By Roy Ward
The Southside Flyers set a new WNBL crowd record in a historic game at John Cain Arena on Saturday night, but Lauren Jackson’s immediate playing future is on a knife edge after she went down with a lower-leg injury in the opening minutes.
The Flyers and the Sydney Flames played in front of a crowd of 7681, which broke the old record of 7500 set in Adelaide in 1995, and while Jackson was the main drawcard for the event, fans only saw her for 90 seconds on court before the injury occurred.
Lauren Jackson leaves with an injury.Credit:Getty Images
Jackson was hurt on the first defensive play of the game when Flames import Jocelyn Willoughby drove to the basket and appeared to bump knees with Jackson, who has starred for the Flyers and, before that, the Australian Opals, following her fairytale comeback to the game last year.
The 42-year-old’s leg twisted awkwardly, and she immediately signalled to the bench that she needed to come off, limping to the sideline before soon going down into the locker rooms with medical staff.
Initially, it appeared to be a knee injury, but Jackson returned from the locker room on crutches and with strapping on her lower leg. She will have scans on Sunday.
Jackson has been playing on a fractured foot since December, but the Flyers have ruled out further damage to that injury.
The match was played in front of a record crowd for the WNBL.Credit:Getty Images
Throughout her comeback to the game, Jackson has always admitted her career could be over instantly should injury strike yet again.
With only four games and three rounds left in their season, the Flyers and Jackson will face a race against time to try and get her back on the court as they chase the WNBL title. Tiana Mangakahia (26 points) made a free-throw with two seconds left to give the Flames a 68-67 upset win over the Flyers who had a last-gasp shot from Kayla Thornton roll off the basket as time expired.
Jackson was the centre of attention on a special night for the 43-year-old league which had never played at John Cain Arena and wanted to give fans a chance to celebrate Jackson’s storied return to the court, in which she led the Opals to a bronze medal at last year’s FIBA Women’s World Cup.
Jackson has starred in her 13 games with the Flyers. Her injury happened so early in the game that some supporters were still taking their seats as she was limping to the sidelines.
Around the stadium were a host of different jerseys and T-shirts from NBA superstars to those from local clubs, but most noticeable was the Jackson memorabilia, including her Opals jersey from last year’s FIBA World Cup in Sydney and the teal GOAT25 T-shirts the Flyers had made for this season.
Players from both teams were introduced and Jackson was left until last, and organisers also ran a short video of Jackson’s career while she waited in the tunnel to be introduced.
Jackson took the roars in her stride as she high-fived her teammates and coaches, at least until teammate Sara Blicavs leapt into her arms – usually the pair might exchange a chest bump but the playful Blicavs must have decided to go all out with her love for her club and Opals teammate.
In between all the cheering for Jackson, the Flyers also acknowledged forward-centre Carley Mijovic for reaching her 250th WNBL game. Mijovic is only 28 but has played in the league since her teenage years and returned to the court last season after the birth of her son.
Lauren Jackson was on crutches.Credit:Getty Images
Sport carries on despite injuries and Jackson saw this during her first retirement, and she will no doubt do all she can to return this season, if her injury allows it.
If this was her last game, then she has left the game and the WNBL with yet another piece of history.
