Women's Hoops Blog

Jayda Evans covers college and pro women's basketball. While its her first year on the Washington beat, she has covered the Storm since its inception. She'll offer observations, critiques, occasional off-beat tales and answers to select e-mail inquires. Evans also has written a book on the Storm and women's hoops, called "Game On!"

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July 29, 2008 3:49 PM

Mailbag: Aussie feedback

Posted by Jayda Evans

Poster Ars asked if there was any word from Storm star Lauren Jackson following the team's impressive 3-2 finish to the pre-Olympic part of the WNBA season without the Australian in the lineup. Jackson left the states on July 17 to train with her national team.

Well, PG Sue Bird, who's Jackson's closest friend on the team, received plenty of text-messages from the Aussie. Most were simple, telling Bird to tell the team "Congrats" for winning. But the last one on Sunday was a little more detailed.

"I'm a legend!" said Bird of what Jackson text'd her after the Sacramento win. Bird scored a season-high 24 points in the game, hitting six free throws down the stretch to secure the victory. "Write that down."

Only there's one catch to Jackson's proclamation.

"She calls everybody a legend," Bird said. (True, I've been called that before by Jackson) "So, I don't take it as some kind of award."

Jackson and Phoenix forward Penny Taylor were in a Aussie "boot camp," doing team building and training. The grueling workout caused Jackson to complain to Bird about her body being sore, but she looked forward to reuniting in China.

Phoenix guard Diana Taurasi also heard from Jackson and communicated with Taylor via e-mail. The Aussies defeated Brazil 99-62 in a tune-up game in Wollongong, Australia. The teams will play again on Wednesday, then travel to Haining, China for the 2008 DIamond Ball Tournament from Aug. 2-5. Six teams -- Russia, Latvia, China, Mali, Team USA, and the Opals -- are part of the Olympic tune-up field.

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