Lauren Jackson to Miss 2014 Storm Season
Jackson to rehab right knee, left Achilles

February 12, 2014

SEATTLE - Following Monday�s surgery on Lauren Jackson�s right knee and left Achilles, the Seattle Storm and Jackson have announced that she will not return to Seattle for the 2014 Storm season.

�I�m so sad that I can�t play this year in Seattle,� said Jackson. �This injury took me by surprise and I�m just coming to grips with the severity of it.�

Jackson competed with the WCBA�s Heilongjiang in Harbin, China during the 2013 WNBA offseason and returned to Australia for surgery Monday on her right knee and left Achilles, both completed by Dr. David Young in Melbourne.

�I want to finish my career in Seattle and I�m going to push to be as healthy as possible to do that,� Jackson continued. �Thank you to the fans for the support you have given me on social media. Your words mean a lot to me. Good luck to the team and the fans for a great season.�

Missing the entire 2013 season due a hamstring injury, Jackson played nine games for the Storm in 2012 and averaged 10.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 18.6 minutes per game. Jackson has competed in 12 WNBA seasons throughout her career, spanning 2001-12. She holds career averages of 18.9 points per game, 7.7 rebounds per game and 32.0 minutes per game.

�Lauren has had a very difficult stretch of injuries over the past three years,� said Storm head coach and general manager Brian Agler. �We all want Lauren to be healthy and compete again for the Storm. Until then, we will move forward, prepare for the upcoming 2014 season and work to put the Storm in position to compete for a championship.�

Drafted first overall by Seattle in the 2001 WNBA Draft, Jackson is a seven-time WNBA All-Star and two-time WNBA Champion with the Storm, in 2004 and 2010. She has been named WNBA Player of the Week 19 times in her career, a league record. She also shares a league record in points scored in a game, (47 at Washington on July 24, 2007), field goals made, (18 at Washington on July 24, 2007) and minutes played in a game with 55 vs. Washington (4OT) on July 3, 2001.

Storm President & CEO Karen Bryant spoke with Jackson, who was still in her hospital room in Melbourne.

�It is unfortunate that Lauren will not be part of our 15th anniversary season,� said Bryant. �We support her efforts to rehab and return to 100 percent, but are also looking forward to a very exciting 2014 Storm season.�

Jackson was named the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2007, a season that saw her lead the league in scoring (23.8 points per game), rebounding, (9.7 rebounds per game) and double-doubles (17), while averaging 2.0 blocks per game.

A three-time WNBA MVP, Jackson holds the Storm franchise record in 10 categories, including: minutes, (10,131), points, (6,007), rebounds, (2,447), field goals, (2,090), field goal attempts, (4,545), free throws, (1,391), free throw attempts, (1,391), offensive rebounds, (709), defensive rebounds, (1,738) and blocked shots, (586).

The Storm will tip off its 2014 campaign versus Los Angeles at KeyArena on May 16. The 2014 Seattle Storm schedule features three home games against the Sparks and two trips from both the reigning WNBA Champion Minnesota Lynx and rival Phoenix Mercury.

Storm season tickets are available online or by calling (206) 217-WNBA (9622). For packages and group deposits, please call (206) 217-WNBA (9622).