Emotional Jackson leads Storm

SEATTLE – Walking down the arena steps as her name blared through the speakers, Lauren Jackson wanted to hide behind one of the numerous signs that Seattle fans brought thanking the two-time MVP for staying in her adopted hometown.

“I didn’t expect to get that kind of reception from everybody. It meant a lot,” Jackson said. “I didn’t think it was going to be any different. When I was walking down the stairs, I get pretty shy anyway, but it was pretty emotional.”

Once the emotional welcome home for Jackson was out of the way, the Australian star scored 25 points and led Seattle to a 80-70 win over the Sacramento Monarchs on Sunday.

A day after scoring 23 points in a season-opening victory in Sacramento, the Monarchs still didn’t find any ways to slow down Seattle’s star.

Beyond her scoring, Sunday night was about Seattle’s appreciation for Jackson, who was a free agent in the offseason and spurned a hard push from Phoenix to remain with the only WNBA franchise she’s played for.

“Tonight was awesome,” Jackson said.

With the lower bowl of KeyArena nearly full, Jackson rode the wave from her introduction and scored Seattle’s first eight points as the Storm built an early double-digit advantage that Sacramento could not overcome. It was Jackson’s first game in Seattle since July 12, as Jackson went to play for Australia in the Olympics and then missed the remainder of the WNBA season following surgery to repair a right ankle injury suffered while playing in Beijing.

After Sacramento scored the first point of the game, Jackson went on a personal 8-1 run and kept it going throughout. She made 9 of 16 shots and added five rebounds.

“She still wows me every now and then,” Seattle teammate Sue Bird said. “She’s just so good.”

Bird added 15 points and eight assists, and Camille Little chipped in with 11 points for Seattle.

Kara Lawson led Sacramento (0-2) with 17 points.