Women’s basketball: Lauren Jackson, Australia

It’s not Bird vs. Magic, but Lauren Jackson vs. Lisa Leslie usually makes for pretty good copy.

Australia and the United States will play a rematch today of their gold-medal game showdown at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The Aussies were routed, 76-54, but not before Jackson served notice she was heir apparent to Leslie as queen of women’s hoops.

Jackson was only 19 in Sydney, but she showed why the Seattle Storm made her the undisputed No. 1 pick in the 2001 WNBA draft. She scored 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the Australians.

Then, in what has served as an unfortunate metaphor for a young player clawing to dethrone the queen, Jackson yanked out Leslie’s hair extension.

It was an apparent accident. Nonetheless, the incident added zest and zip to a rivalry that the two women and their teammates attempt to explain as “respectful,” but is really quite raw.

“I don’t think there’s any love lost between them,” said Jackson’s Seattle teammate, Sue Bird, who plays with Leslie on the U.S. basketball team.

“You need rivalries in sports. I take it like the old and the new. Lisa’s won gold medals, a WNBA championship. Lauren wants to do those things, too. She’s competitive,” Bird said.

– Baltimore Sun