Lauren Jackson to decide between Storm and Phoenix Mercury

You have to reach back to the 2007 postseason for the last time Seattle and Phoenix were in a battle with so much on the line. Seattle hopes that when it comes to free agent star Lauren Jackson, it's victorious, unlike that first-round exit.

In an 18-minute interview aired on an Australian radio station, Jackson revealed her final choices for next season are the Storm and the Phoenix Mercury.

Jackson, a 6-foot-5 power forward from Albury, is an unrestricted free agent for the first time since Seattle drafted her with the No. 1 overall pick in 2001. The two-time MVP played eight seasons for the Storm, helping lead them to their only championship in 2004.

Yet, while the shortened list is new, Jackson and her agent still say she will not make any decisions until after her basketball season in Russia concludes.

Jackson's Spartak Moscow opened SuperLeague playoffs this week, winning its first game 86-57 against Kursk Dynamo. The earliest the postseason could conclude is April 28. WNBA training camp opens May 17.

"I think Seattle and Phoenix are sort of the two places I'm looking at going," Jackson told Radio Sport 927 in an interview recorded Monday from Russia. "Obviously, I love Seattle, and I've been there for many years. It's always going to be a tough decision, but I don't know what I'm going to do. As long as I feel like I don't know, I can't make any decisions. I don't want to make the wrong one. It's something I'm going to decide for myself soon. I've taken my time, but I need to make sure I make the right decision."

Jackson, 27, told the station she's going to return to Albury and weigh both sides with her parents. She can make $2,500 more re-signing with Seattle for the player maximum ($99,500) and previously said it's about money at this point in her career.

But while Jackson is close to Storm point guard Sue Bird, who plays and lives with her in Russia, playing with Russian house/teammate Diana Taurasi in Phoenix is also appealing.

Phoenix coach Corey Gaines and Storm coach Brian Agler made trips overseas to court the international star. Agler also signed Australian center Suzy Batkovic, a childhood friend of Jackson, to make Seattle more alluring.

Jackson owns property downtown and it hasn't been placed on the market. The Storm, which accommodated Jackson's Olympic dreams by allowing her to miss five games headed into the leaguewide break, said the sides have an agreement that she would notify the team first of her final decision.

Jayda Evans: 206-464-2067 or jevans@seattletimes.com