Lauren Jackson AO OLY
WNBA All-Star, Social Entrepreneur & Q&A Speaker
One of Australia’s greatest female basketballers, Lauren shares her experiences of elite sport, leadership, and overcoming challenges both on and off the court.
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Lauren Jackson is widely recognised as one of Australia’s greatest female basketballers and an engaging Q&A speaker, sharing insights into elite sport, the life of a professional athlete, and the challenges of performing at the highest level.
Raised in Albury, New South Wales, Lauren’s elite career spanned 15 years, competing in top leagues around the world, including the WNBL (Australia), WNBA (USA), EuroLeague (Europe), and WKBL (Asia). She made history as the first Australian selected as the number one overall pick in an international professional draft and was named an All-Star in her first WNBA season. In 2003, she became the youngest player to win the WNBA MVP award and the first non-American recipient, challenging the dominance of American players.
Lauren represented Australia at multiple Olympic Games, culminating in being named flag bearer for the 2012 London Olympics and helping the Opals secure a Bronze Medal. Domestically, she has been a role model and inspiration for aspiring athletes, leaving a lasting legacy on the sport both in Australia and internationally.
Since retiring in 2016, Lauren has completed a degree in Gender & Diversity and devoted herself to charitable work, continuing to inspire through sport, advocacy, and education.
