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Originally published September 23, 2009 at 8:44 PM | Page modified September 23, 2009 at 10:46 PM

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Lauren Jackson, Storm agree to 2-year deal

The Australian star said she wants to finish her WNBA career in Seattle

By Jayda Evans

Seattle Times staff reporter

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Storm All-Star Lauren Jackson stayed true to her word, verbally agreeing to a two-year deal with the club before departing for her native Australia this week.

Seattle just needs ink on paper, which must wait until Jan. 5, when WNBA teams can sign free agents.

But there won't be any offseason turmoil about whether Jackson will return, like there was last offseason when she was an unrestricted free agent for the first time. Now the Storm can focus on building around the 6-foot-5 forward with backcourt depth and athleticism.

"I want to finish my career here," Jackson said after exit interviews with coach Brian Agler and CEO Karen Bryant on Wednesday.

Jackson, the team's all-time leading scorer (5,101 points), said Agler and teammate Sue Bird, who is signed through the 2011 season, made her long-term deal an easy decision. Jackson usually prefers one-year deals to keep scheduling open for overseas play and competition with her national team.

But the 28-year-old Jackson, who has made Seattle her home since being drafted in 2001, is leaning toward shortening her play for Spartak Russia and continuing in the WNBA. She has two years remaining on a deal to play overseas.

"Maybe [I'll] play back in Australia so it's not so full-on, and then play WNBA," said Jackson a two-time league MVP. "But I am going to have to think about slowing down at one point."

Year-round play took its toll on Jackson for a second consecutive season. Doctors discovered two stress fractures in the lower right side of her vertebrae in August, causing her to miss the final six regular-season games and postseason. She'll have the injury re-evaluated in Australia, but plans to return for a full Storm season in 2010.

Despite missing eight games overall, she was named to the all-WNBA first team for the sixth time in her career. She earned $10,000 for the award.

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

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