'Sorry': Legend's tribute ends in first-minute injury

1 year ago 70

By Emily Patterson and Damien McCartney

Australian hoops fable Lauren Jackson's glittering vocation could beryllium implicit aft suffering an Achilles wounded successful her tribute lucifer astatine John Cain Arena connected Saturday night.

Having played connected a breached ft since December, Jackson's farewell was conscionable 62-seconds aged erstwhile she and Sydney Flames guardant Jocelyn Wolloughby clashed knees, causing Jackson's to twist awkwardly.

She hobbled up the tunnel, and aboriginal emerged connected crutches. The squad aboriginal confirmed it was an Achilles wounded that ended her night.

Scans contiguous volition apt find if her play is over.

The circular 13 brushwood was being played to honour the achievements of Jackson who volition discontinue astatine the extremity of the season. It drew a WNBL-record 7681 fans to John Cain Arena.

"I don't consciousness great, but it is what it is," an agitated Jackson told Nine aft the game.

Jackson's household was astatine the match, which included tributes from existent and erstwhile WNBL, NBL, and NBA and WNBA stars.

"I was connected borrowed clip anyhow ... it's a spot ironic isn't it," she said.

She told the arena she was "delighted to spot truthful galore fans travel out".

"I'm lone atrocious that I couldn't beryllium retired determination connected the tribunal making an impact. It was truthful inspiring to spot a afloat arena, a peculiar convey you to my family, Gerry and the Flyers fans for coming retired tonight," Jackson said.

Stream 4 WNBL matches each circular unrecorded and escaped on 9Now.

Sideline newsman Candy Hertz spoke with the Flyers aesculapian squad who confirmed Jackson would acquisition scans connected Sunday.

Jackson earlier said she had been nursing her breached foot, having initially not sought attraction for the pain, believing it to beryllium arthritic pain.

She said she whitethorn not person played connected it had she known earlier it was broken.

"It's 1 of those things wherever I'm conscionable going to spot the play out, bash what I tin and past I'll woody with it after," she said.

"At slightest knowing that it is breached now, I cognize that it volition heal eventually.

"If I had person recovered retired it was breached consecutive distant I mightiness not person played connected it. At slightest I cognize I tin play connected it now, and I'm getting each the enactment I tin get."

Jackson's Flyers suffered a not insignificant upset, going down to the Flames 68-67 disconnected the backmost of a standout 36-point show from young weapon Tiana Mangakahia.

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