Australia's retired women's basketball ace Lauren Jackson may return

Lauren Jackson, 42, may return to play for Australia at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris this summer after retiring twice from the national team.

The three-time WNBA Most Valuable Player was included in Australia's 26-player squad, announced on Wednesday. According to ESPN, she is considered by many to be one of the final 12 Opals.

Jackson played at four editions of the Olympics, starting in 2000 in Sydney, and Australia won medals in all of them: three silvers in 2000, 2004 and 2008, plus one bronze in 2012. She missed the Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 after retiring for the first time in the same year because of knee injuries.

Having returned for the Opals at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup at home in 2022, Jackson helped her team finish in third place. She scored 30 points for Australia to beat Canada 95-65 in the bronze medal game at the tournament.

Jackson announced her retirement for the second time in February after helping the national team qualify for the Paris Olympics. She made the decision to spend more time with her children, one aged five and the other seven.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Jackson reached an agreement with Basketball Australia to cover the cost of her two children traveling with her to the national team's training camps and Paris for the Olympic Games.

"It's always an exciting time to announce an Olympic squad, and I congratulate all the athletes," Australia's head coach Sandy Brondello said. "They all know what it means to play for Australia, and they all want the opportunity to represent their country at an Olympics. Our squad is full of exceptional talent, and they will make the decision to pick a final 12 very difficult."

Australia are in Group B with France, Canada and Nigeria. There are three groups for the event. The top two teams will advance to the quarterfinals, and the two best-performing third-place-ranked teams will join them.