By Chris Wilson

Canberra Capitals star Lauren Jackson is favourite to win her third Most Valuable Player award in the Women's National Basketball League after taking out her club's major prize last night.

Jackson was handed her fourth successive MVP award with the Capitals during a ceremony at the Southern Cross Club.

After leading the Capitals to their third title in four years, Jackson is on track to win her third league MVP award when it is named on April 1. Jackson won the prestigious award two seasons running, in 1998-99 and 1999-2000.

Despite playing this season with stress fractures in her shin, Jackson was more dominant than she has ever been.

Jackson was chosen in her fifth straight WNBL All-Star team and was named grand final MVP after a record haul in the decider. Jackson broke the grand final records in scoring (30 points) rebounding (23) and blocks (5).

Jackson averaged 27.9 points a game, the second-highest scoring season in WNBL history. Only Dandenong's Penny Taylor has scored more in a summer, averaging 28.5 points in 2001-02. Jackson also led the league in rebounding (12.7) and shooting percentage.

Capitals captain Lucille Bailie was voted Players' Player, the veteran passing 350 WNBL in style during the season.

The 33-year-old is committed to coming back next season and becoming the most capped player in WNBL history. She is only 20 games short of Karen Dalton's record 375 WNBL games.

Shooting guard Kellie Abrams was rewarded for a sensational season, named Best Defensive Player. Returning Capitals coach Carrie Graf has described Abrams as an international standard defender and could switch her to point guard next season to take advantage of it.

Young centre Nerrida Cooper missed the finals series because of a knee injury, but the 18-year-old was named Capital on the Rise. Cooper did a remarkable job filling the giant boots of Jackson in the first four games of the season, and played a crucial back-up role off the bench.

Capitals Impact Player of the year was forward Sarah Berry. Berry, 20, was a spark off the bench for the Capitals all season and filled a valuable starting role when Eleanor Sharp was out with glandular fever.