Fast Break

Basketball

Jackson wins another MVP

Seattle Storm forward Lauren Jackson won her second career WNBA Most Valuable Player award on Wednesday.

Jackson, who also won the MVP honor in 2003, led the league in scoring for the third time with a career-best 23.8 points per game and also led the WNBA with a career-best 9.7 rebounds per game.

Jackson, who was selected to the All-WNBA team, set a league record with nine games of scoring 30 points or more.

The native of Australia became the youngest (26 years, 77 days) and reached the 4,000-point plateau in the fewest games in league history during the season. Last month, she was selected to the league’s all-defensive team.

Jackson received a total of 473 points in voting among national sportswriters and broadcasters, including 42 first-place votes. Becky Hammon of the San Antonio Silver Stars finished second with 254 points.

College football

1997 flashback: Cougs vs. UCLA

Tonight Cougars fans can relive one of the most memorable games in Washington State football history when Fox Sports Northwest airs the 1997 contest between UCLA and Washington State at Martin Stadium.

Quarterback Ryan Leaf threw for what was then a career-high 381 yards and three touchdowns against the Bruins on Aug. 30, 1997, and the Cougars’ defense made a goal-line stand late in the game as WSU handed UCLA a 37-34 loss in each team’s opener.

The Cougars, after falling behind 7-0 and 14-3, scored 27 unanswered points in the second quarter to take a 30-14 lead at halftime. After getting back to within three points, the Bruins were driving late in the game, but a comeback bid was cut short when the Cougars’ defense rallied inside three minutes by halting the Bruins’ fourth down rushing attempt 1 yard from the end zone.

The game will be shown at 7:30 p.m. on Fox Sports Northwest.