Seattle's Lauren Jackson to lead Australia in Beijing

Fri, Jul 4 11:21 AM

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) _ Seattle Storm forward Lauren Jackson will lead the Australian women's basketball team at Beijing, where the side will attempt to turn silver medals at the past two Olympics into gold. Australia, which will also have world championship MVP Penny Taylor in the team, lost the gold medal finals to the United States in 2000 and 2004.

The 12-woman squad announced Friday has six players from the team which won silver at Athens four years ago Jackson, Taylor, Kristi Harrower, Belinda Snell, Suzy Batkovic and Laura Summerton. Australia will go into next month's Olympics as the reigning world champions.

"I'm incredibly excited to be going to Beijing," Taylor said. "It doesn't matter how many Games you go to, the incredible feeling just gets stronger.

" Taylor, who averaged 17.8 points and 6.3 rebounds in 2007 for the Phoenix Mercury, is not playing this WNBA season so she can compete for Australia at Beijing. There is a chance she could return for the Mercury's final seven games.

The reigning MVP of the United States' WNBA, Jackson will also captain the Opals in a two-game series against Brazil in Wollongong, south of Sydney, on July 28 and in Sydney on July 30. Jackson will leave Seattle on July 17 to return home and will miss five Seattle games during her Olympic assignment.

After the series against Brazil, Australia heads to China for an Olympic warmup event featuring the United States, Russia, Japan, Mali and the host nation. The Australians begin their Olympic tournament against Belarus on Aug.

9. __ Australian team: Suzy Batkovic, Tully Bevilaqua, Rohanee Cox, Hollie Grima, Kristi Harrower, Lauren Jackson, Erin Phillips, Emma Randall, Jenni Screen, Belinda Snell, Laura Summerton, Penny Taylor.

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