Chief Minister Stanhope informed Basketball ACT and the Canberra Capitals of the government’s commitment this morning.
The amount offered is well short of what is needed to lure the world’s best women’s basketball player back to Canberra and a steering committee chaired by ActewAGL Chairman John McKay has been formed to garner financial support from the Canberra business community.
A similar approach was used earlier this year to secure Australian Wallaby Matt Giteau’s move from the Western Force to the ACT Brumbies.
About $400,000 in third-party sponsorship was generated by a Canberra business consortium headed by Mackay, ACTTAB chief Tony Curtis, Colliers International's Paul Powderley, Stephen Johnston of Macquarie Bank and Canberra Milk boss Gary Sykes on that occasion.
Jackson’s agent Bruce Kaider was quick to qualify any news of his star athlete signing with Canberra but did not rule out the possibility of her return to the Capitals.
“Lauren is still contracted to play with Spartak in Moscow and at this point her intention is to fulfill her contractual obligation,” Kaider said.
“But if the circumstances change in Russia we would certainly look at opportunities in Europe, Asia and the WNBL.”
“Lauren loves Canberra and she has enjoyed great success there so if the financial support could be generated it would certainly be a proposition we would investigate.”
Canberra Capitals head coach Carrie Graf urged the top end of town to follow Chief Minister Stanhope’s lead and get behind the push to bring Jackson back.
“We’re talking about having the best female basketball player in the world returning to the Australian domestic competition to represent Canberra and that excites me,” Graf said.
“If things change in Russia and Lauren goes on the open market she will be the hottest free agent in the global game and contract offers will come thick and fast.
“I want Canberra at the very least to be in the mix and Chief Minister Stanhope’s commitment is a great start.”
Jackson played 101 WNBL games for Canberra between 1999 and 2006 and was named Most Valuable Player of the 2006 WNBL Grand Final won by the Capitals.
She has been named Most Valuable Player of the WNBL on four occasions and is a two-time winner of the MVP award in America’s WNBA.
Story courtesy of Canberra TransACT Capitals
Photo courtesy of Lisa McGinnigle
