She’s staying in Seattle

Well, looks like the city of Seattle’s basketball outlook just keeps getting better and better.

The Daily Telegraph is reporting that Lauren Jackson will play in the WNBA this season, taking only a short break (five games, apparently) to prepare for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

It was suggested the Australian captain might sit out the WNBA season to devote herself to the Olympic campaign.

But Jackson’s agent Bruce Kaider said a deal had been struck that satisfied Jackson, Basketball Australia and Seattle. Jackson, who is currently playing in the lucrative Russian league for Spartak, will start the WNBA season for Seattle on May 17. She will play until July 12, when she will return to Australia for a training camp.

The Opals will also play a pre-Olympic tournament in China from August 2-5.

After getting word of an ownership group stepping up to attempt to take control of the team and keep the Storm in Washington, this is added good news for new coach Brian Agler.

Now if we can get us a collective bargaining agreement, we might just see if Seattle can mount another playoff run.