Women’s World Cup basketball: Lauren Jackson bows out as Australia wins bronze medal
Lauren Jackson bowed out with a stunning display, but she also helped the Opals off the court after Liz Cambage had compromised the team’s culture.
Basketball
Don't miss out on the headlines from Basketball. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Departing Australian hoops legend Lauren Jackson says the bronze-medal winning Opals are on the cusp of a “boom” after restoring the team’s respected reputation at the World Cup in Sydney.
The Opals capped off a program-defining Cup campaign with a bronze in a fitting farewell for the country’s greatest player in Jackson.
The girl from Albury put on a show in her final game in the green and gold to help Australia claim a dominant 95-65 win over Canada in the third-place match.
Jackson finished with a game-high 30 points, seven rebounds, two steals and one block in 21 minutes to receive the player of the game and ensure her last appearance for Australia was memorable.
The five-time World Cup veteran took to social media pre-game to announce the bronze medal game against Canada will be her international farewell.
“It just dawned on me that this will be my last game ever in the green and gold and how lucky I am to have had this opportunity to represent Australia and also say goodbye, I didn’t get that chance all those years ago,” the 41-year-old said.
A horror injury run forced the country’s greatest ever basketballer into retirement in 2016.
Before this year’s World Cup, her last appearance for the Opals was in 2013.
Jackson was reduced to tears in the post-game press conference as she reflected on the “most humbling and rewarding 10 months of my life”.
“I said to Sandy after the game, ‘thank you for selecting me’, because you’ve given me another opportunity to play the sport I love in front of the Australian people,” she said.
“This has been a magnificent experience.”
Jackson was asked if she would consider delaying her international retirement to don the sneakers at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but she swiftly shut down that thought, saying: “No, I’ve got to go back to work and be a mum. My babies need me.”
Australia’s podium finish is also a testament to the team’s arduous work to repair the culture after a disastrous Tokyo Olympic campaign.
Jackson’s role in the rebuild has been profound, on-and-off the court.
She helped the Australians rediscover their confidence and identity after former teammate Liz Cambage had compromised the team’s culture.
Cambage’s racial and physical attack on the Nigerians in a pre-Tokyo Olympic scrimmage left behind mental scars on her teammates.
Jackson’s respect and profound experience of what it means to be an Opal had a calming and inspiring influence on the team – and it showed in spades throughout the World Cup.
The Opals success in Sydney was also the result of countless hours working on the team’s culture post Tokyo.
“And it has paid off,” Jackson said.
“When I first came into the team, we did a lot of work on the culture.
“They wanted to be feared, respected and professional and they have truly lived up to every one of those things.
“I told the girls in the camp in New York before I was even selected that I know what I’ll be telling every single person about you.
“They’ve all got incredible character and fight and I’ve never been on a team that is so connected.
“I know that our Opals are in great hands moving forward.
“They all know what it means to represent Australia and it’s just going to boom.”
Jackson officially retires from the international game as an Australian icon.
She received a resounding reception from the Australian crowd when her name was announced pre-game.
She entered the game after four minutes and made an immediate impact.
Jackson produced a trademark post move to the basket for her first points.
She also provided the Australians with a feared presence in the paint to help the Opals fight back from an early deficit.
Jackson had five points in the first quarter to have the bumper Sydney Superdome crowd on its feet.
Fellow centre Marianna Tolo had all six of Australia’s points in the first quarter before Jackson entered the game to help the Opals go to quarter time with a four-point lead.
Australia came out firing in the second quarter to surge to a 34-23 lead.
Guard Steph Talbot, who finished with 16 points, was outstanding for Australia with her aggression running the floor and pinpoint shooting.
The New York Liberty guard shot two of three from range in the first half to ensure the Opals went to the main break with a 51-43 advantage.
Talbot had a team-high 11 points at the half, but Jackson was the star of this show.
The hoops legend re-entered the game in the third and went to work.
Jackson dominated to have the crowd chanting, ‘MVP,’ as she piled on the points in the post.
As she left the court for the final time, she received a standing ovation from the Sydney crowd.
Jackson’s Opals teammates also lifted the champion on their shoulders as the fans in the stands chanted, ‘LJ.’
A fitting farewell and recognition for one of the finest athletes we’ve ever seen in Australian sport.
FANS FUME AS BROADCAST CRASHES BEFORE JACKSON’S MOMENT
Tim Michell
Basketball fans have been left fuming after missing the final minutes of Lauren Jackson’s farewell to the sport.
The ESPN TV broadcast cut out with minutes left in Australia’s Bronze Medal match against Canada, in which Jackson turned back the clock with a vintage performance.
Just as she was preparing to take the last shots of her decorated career, the TV broadcast was lost.
Minutes later a message appeared which read: We apologise for this break in transmission and will return to normal programming as soon as possible.
Wow @espn feed fails right at a historic moment for the opals
— The Red and Black Baron (@bill_wints) October 1, 2022
Wtf espn … piss poor performance robbed us all of LJs last minutes, what a joke #FIBA_Womens_Basketball_World_Cup_2022
— Evan Hudleston (@EvanHudleston) October 1, 2022
Lauren Jackson shooting the ESPN coverage out #FIBAWWC
— egon spengler (@print_isdead) October 1, 2022
Great stuff ESPN #FIBAWCCpic.twitter.com/5sS2xfXWLh
— Kamilia Hanna (@KamiliaHannaV1) October 1, 2022
LJ is putting on an absolute clinic out there.
— Tim Coghl.\n (@bohdia) October 1, 2022
Millennials and GenZ can finally appreciate with their own eyes why she will once again the ðŸ when she retires. Form is temporary, class is permanent. #FIBAWWC#Opals 🇦🇺 #CAN 🇨🇦
The Lauren Jackson encore ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘#GoOpals#FIBAWWC
— Damian Arsenis (@DamianArsenis) October 1, 2022
lauren jackson has 22 points in 16 minutes on 9-for-13 FGs for australia. just incredible.
— Holly MacKenzie (@stackmack) October 1, 2022
This is Lauren Jackson's world and we're just living in it #FIBAWWC
— Elly McNerney (@ellymc24) October 1, 2022
Lauren Jackson getting to go out on her own terms. Love it.
— Shannon (@nonnahs23) October 1, 2022
US SUPREMACY CAPPED WITH GOLD
Matt Logue
Team USA has reinforced its position as the undisputed champions of women’s world basketball after claiming a fourth straight World Cup crown with a comfortable 83-61 win over China.
USA captain Breanna Stewart declared mid-tournament that no one could stop the all-conquering Americans from winning another Cup title in Sydney.
Stewart’s dominant American side backed up their skipper’s words with actions on Saturday with another commanding display to ensure the US went through the tournament undefeated.
The USA’s triumph over China extends their World Cup winning streak to an incredible 30 victories.
Las Vegas Aces WNBA championship-winning forward A’ja Wilson led the way for the Americans with a game-high 19 points.
America’s Aces contingent put on a show, with title-winning guards Kelsey Plum and Chelsea Gray adding 17 and 10 points respectively.
Stewart wasn’t at her game-high best on the offensive end, but the skipper still
had a major impact.
She finished with nine points while she produced a World Cup personal best six assists.
China was competitive, but they couldn’t contain the USA’s potent offence and dogged defence.
The Chinese can still go home proud after collecting a silver medal, the nation’s first major international medal since the 1994 World Cup in Australia when they collected bronze.
‘VINTAGE LJ’: JACKSON’S SEQUEL GETS PERFECT ENDING
Matt Logue
The Australian Opals capped off a program-defining World Cup campaign with a bronze medal in a fitting farewell for the country’s greatest player Lauren Jackson.
Jackson put on a show in her final game in the green and gold to help the Opals claim a dominant 95-65 win over Canada in the third-place match.
The five-time World Cup veteran finished with a game-high 30 points, seven rebounds, two steals and one block in 21 minutes to receive the player of the game and ensure her last appearance for Australia was memorable.
Jackson took to social media pre-game to announce the bronze medal game against Canada will be her international farewell.
“It just dawned on me that this will be my last game ever in the green and gold and how lucky I am to have had this opportunity to represent Australia and also say goodbye, I didn’t get that chance all those years ago,” the 41-year-old said.
A horror injury run forced the country’s greatest ever basketballer into retirement in 2016.
Before this year’s World Cup, her last appearance for the Opals was in 2013.
Australia’s podium finish is also a testament to the team’s hard work to repair the culture after a disastrous Tokyo Olympic campaign.
Jackson’s role in the rebuild has been profound, on-and-off the court.
She helped the Australians rediscover their confidence and identity after former teammate Liz Cambage had compromised the team’s culture.
Cambage’s racial and physical attack on the Nigerians in a pre-Tokyo Olympic scrimmage left behind mental scars on her teammates.
Jackson’s respect and profound experience of what it means to be an Opal had a calming and inspiring influence on the team – and it showed in spades throughout the World Cup in Sydney.
The girl from Albury will officially retires from the international game as an Australian icon.
Jackson received a resounding reception from the Australian crowd when her name was announced pre-game.
She entered the game after four minutes and made an immediate impact.
Jackson produced a trademark post move to the basket for her first points.
She also provided the Australians with a feared presence in the paint to help the Opals fight back from an early deficit.
Jackson had five points in the first quarter to have the bumper Sydney Superdome crowd on its feet.
Fellow centre Marianna Tolo had all six of Australia’s points in the first quarter before Jackson entered the game to help the Opals go to quarter time with a four-point lead.
Australia came out firing in the second quarter to surge to a 34-23 lead.
Guard Steph Talbot, who finished with 16 points, was outstanding for Australia with her aggression running the floor and pinpoint shooting.
The New York Liberty guard shot two of three from range in the first half to ensure the Opals went to the main break with a 51-43 advantage.
Talbot had a team-high 11 points at the half, but Jackson was the star of this show.
The hoops legend re-entered the game in the third and went to work.
Jackson dominated in the post to have the crowd chanting, ‘MVP,’ as she piled on the points in the post.
As she left the court for the final time, she received a standing ovation from the Sydney crowd.
Jackson’s Opals teammates also lifted the champion on their shoulders as the fans in the stands chanted, ‘LJ.’
A fitting farewell and recognition for one of the finest athletes we’ve ever seen in Australian sport.
Watch every game of the 2022/23 NBL Season on ESPN on Kayo Sports. Season starts this Saturday October 1. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
South East Melbourne sack coach after horror start
Patience has officially run out at the Phoenix, with South East Melbourne axing coach Mike Kelly after its latest defeat.
How Longley lured the NBL’s ‘Beast’ to the Kings
Keli Leaupepe is the Kings’ self-confessed ‘Beast’, but if it wasn’t for Luc Longley he would be flexing his muscles for the Phoenix. This is how the hoops legend changed the course of NBL25.