How good could Lauren Jackson have been?
We’ll never know.
Because while Jackson is regarded as the best Australian basketballer of all time, global female athletic performance has suffered due to lack of parity in scientific research.
It’s a point not lost on 41-year-old Jackson who will come off the bench in today’s FIBA World Cup opener against France in Sydney.
Watch every game of the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Live & Free on ESPN with Kayo Freebies. Register now, no credit card required.
“Female bodies have definitely suffered due to lack of knowledge,” Jackson said.
“The norm for research has always been the male athlete … we haven’t seen sport science address female issues like the menstrual cycle which adds an extra layer of complexity to performance,” Jackson said.
“The problem with this is trying to translate the existing research – based on men – to females.
“I’ve suffered badly from endometriosis my whole career; a lot of women do but we don’t talk about it and we just get on with it … but I think it’s going to be incredible when we come to understand, accept, and truly support female athletes.
“That is going to be THE moment for women’s sport.
“True equity has many facets. Visibility is important, resources, facilities … and now research. So, I think there’s an argument that we haven’t seen any woman from any sport at her best – because she hasn’t been supported by the science.
“So, we still have lots of moments to come.”
Women’s sport has experienced significant growth and deepening engagement in the past few years and streaming service Kayo and Fox has responded with a record number of women’s sports’ hours in September through to October.
Kayo Sports Marketing Director, Kim McConnie said: “Kayo Sports is passionate about giving women’s sports a platform to grow and prosper. Over the coming months there is an incredible equinox of women’s sport as we deliver the biggest seasons of AFLW, NRLW, WBBL and of course the FIBA Women’s World Cup.”
“We have more than 1.3 million Kayo subscribers and growing, and we are seeing them watch more and more women’s sport.”
Jackson’s selection to play at the FIBA World Cup represents one of the greatest comebacks by an Australian athlete of any code – and gender.
She spent the best part of six months rebuilding her “retirement body” to become the Opals X-Factor.
Chronic knee injuries forced Jackson into international retirement in 2013 after 220 appearances, and while she has confessed to self doubt “every day” during her Opals comeback, she has complete conviction in her teammates.
“I was apprehensive walking into that first training camp, the girls were from a much younger generation but they embraced me from day one,” she said.
“In terms of culture, they have been working hard since their quarter-final loss at the Tokyo Olympics and I have never met a team that is more attuned to each other.
“I am not sure what happened with the whole Liz (Cambage) thing, to be honest – no one talks about it and everyone has moved on.
“This is a team that takes care of each other off the court, and on the court it has been physical.
“It’s like the Opals of old in term of physicality … that has always been the key to Opals success. Our girls have worked hard at getting to the ring, taking the hits … and not complaining.
“You can’t buy that. I couldn’t be more impressed with this group regardless of the outcome.”
And the group couldn’t be more impressed with the no-ego, Jackie Howe work ethic of the 1.96m Jackson.
“I know I can’t do the things I used to but I can’t wait to play my role, playing hard in defence, taking the open shot, being a presence and being physical on the boards … whatever I can do to help.
“I guess my role is to go out and be … me.”
However, not everyone is so excited about her comeback. Jackson joked: “My youngest Lenny isn’t talking to me at the moment … he’s not happy that mummy is not at home so he is giving me the cold shoulder … but my eldest is excited, he’s here and gets to watch me play but his highlight will be having an ice cream.”
AUSTRALIA v FRANCE
Thursday September 22 at 7.30pm
Watch every game of the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Live & Free on ESPN with Kayo Freebies. Register now, no credit card required.
