After almost six years away from the court, one of Australia’s greatest-ever basketball players is back. Former Opals star Lauren Jackson confirmed her return to the sport, signing with NBL1 East team Albury Wodonga Bandits. The 40-year-old, who hails from Albury, will get the chance to play in a stadium named after her at the Lauren Jackson Sports Centre. Jackson labelled the chance to play for her hometown team as a “dream come true” and refused to rule out anything, including a potential return to the Opals. “When I played in America and Europe, overseas living the dream, there were times when I just wished I played for Albury at home, so it’s a bit of a dream come true,” Jackson told News Corp. “I haven’t really played for eight years and I haven’t played a game yet so I’ve got not idea what to expect. “After a couple of months of playing NBL1, who knows how I’m going to feel, what I’m going to be doing or how I’ll be playing, it’s a complete unknown. “I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing at the moment because it seems to be working and we’ll see wherever it takes me, who knows? “I’m not closing the door on anything.” Bandits President Luke Smith was ecstatic to have secured the signature of an Australian sporting great. “We’re just over the moon that Lauren’s playing for her hometown and her home club,” Smith said. “It’s huge for the Albury Wodonga Bandits and for the Albury Wodonga community. “I think it’s going to be a really big year and we’re really looking forward to her playing in a stadium named after herself and in front of her friends, family and her two boys. “They’re at the age where they’ll be able to remember seeing their mum play, not only basketball, but basketball at home too.” Aside from the community and family benefits of Jackson playing for the Bandits, Smith expressed his delight about what she will bring to the squad. “Our young players are going to have a massive opportunity to play and train with arguably the world’s best-ever female basketball player,” Smith said. “It’s huge for them, it’s huge for every kid and it’s huge for every basketball player in Albury Wodonga.” Jackson is a four-time Olympic medallist and one of the greatest WNBA players in the league’s history. A 3-time WNBA MVP, she had her No. 15 jersey retired by the Seattle Storm after retiring in 2016 due to a series of chronic knee injuries. At a domestic level, Jackson is a five-time WNBL champion and a four-time WNBL MVP. She is also in the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame and holds the honour of being the first Australian inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. SOURCE: FOX SPORTS