Jackson calls Storm jersey retirement 'overwhelming, emotional, special'

WNBA legend Lauren Jackson described her Seattle Storm jersey retirement on Friday as the "most overwhelming, emotional, (and) special" night of her life.

Jackson spent her entire WNBA career with the Storm and led the franchise to two titles. In addition, Jackson copped three MVP awards. Her jersey no. 15 was the first number retired by the franchise.
The 35-year-old center has not played for Seattle for three years, and her return was truly an emotional moment for the entire city.
The ceremony also saw Jackson reunite with longtime teammate Sue Bird. Bird opened up about Jackson's legacy during a media availability session on Thursday, saying Jackson has impacted her team with her work ethic, which eventually gave the Storm an identity as a team.

Per the WNBA website:
“I mean, she’s a badass. That’s going to be her legacy. She is. Everyone talks about ‘the look.’ That’s going to be the cover of the book. The title will be ‘Badass.’ That look was her everyday and every game. That’s what identity of our team was all of the years that she played here. We kind of followed that. 
The impact that she had on her teammates was tremendous and could have only been done the way she did it, because that’s who she is. You look at what she did on the court — the play speaks for itself as well. But a badass. You could bring up a player and argue this, argue that, but you can’t argue this. There’s no arguing it. She proved it every time she stepped on the court. You’re real. Numbers don’t lie.”
Bird added per the WNBA website how grateful she was to be Jackson's teammate, even including Jackson in her all-time best players list.
“I love it (always being mentioned as a duo). It’s only right because so much of what we did here was together. We really complemented each other. We have been together since day one. The attributes that we both possess as basketball players, it just fits. I love that my career is tied to hers. I have no other way to describe it. It’s only right that it would happen like that." 
“We talk often. It’s easy now with texting and WhatsApp and all of that stuff, it keeps us alive and going. It’s easy to stay in touch. The fact that’s been almost four years is crazy. I didn’t really even realize that until I got asked the other day and I was like, ‘Wait a minute, it’s been four years?’ It doesn’t feel like that at all.” 
"Luckily because we played so long here together, we have a lot to choose from. Obviously on-court, the easy answer is winning championships, but I think some of the best memories we have are the nights we went out after games, or the long road trips when flights get delayed and you have to make it fun. But as far as on the court and the city of Seattle. the city watched us grow up since we were 21 and our relationship continued to grow as the years went on.” 
“In Storm history, (she is) absolutely (the best). In WNBA, each player, each team, it’s hard to argue, but in my mind, her and Diana are the best to play. I get it, there are other players involved, but if you want to say top-two to top-five, she’s definitely the best.”
The Storm defeated the Washington Mystics, 80-51 on Friday behind 26 points from Jewell Loyd.

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