Lauren Jackson
A fierce 6-foot-5 center from Australia, she dominated both the WNBA and international courts, forcing the world to respect women's basketball.
Born 1981 (age 45)·Australian basketball player·Birthday: May 11·Millennials
Biography
Lauren Jackson didn't just play basketball; she imposed her will on it. Hailing from the small town of Albury, Australia, her combination of size, skill, and a famously competitive streak made her a force of nature. Drafted first overall by the Seattle Storm in 2001, she spent over a decade as the franchise's cornerstone, delivering two WNBA championships and three MVP awards. Simultaneously, she was the engine of the Australian Opals, leading them to multiple Olympic silver medals and finally breaking through for a historic world championship gold in 2006, where she was tournament MVP. Her battles with American rival Lisa Leslie defined an era of women's basketball, a trans-Pacific rivalry that elevated the sport's profile. Plagued by chronic knee injuries, her career was a marathon of pain management and comebacks, culminating in a final, storybook return to the court for the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Olympics, cementing her status as an Australian sporting titan.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Lauren was born in 1981, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Lauren Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Lauren's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won three WNBA Most Valuable Player awards (2003, 2007, 2010) with the Seattle Storm.
- Led the Australian Opals to a gold medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championship, earning tournament MVP honors.
- Won two WNBA championships with the Seattle Storm in 2004 and 2010.
- Was the number one overall pick in the 2001 WNBA Draft.
Did You Know?
Her mother, Maree Jackson, also played for the Australian national basketball team.
She was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for her service to basketball.
She made a surprise comeback to professional basketball in 2022 after retiring in 2016 due to injury.
“I hate losing more than I love winning.”
