The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) today announced Canberra TransACT Capital Lauren Jackson is the 2003 WNBA Most Valuable Player. The acknowledgement as the best player in the best league in the world comes as no surprise to Capitals fans.

Jackson polled 406 votes and 23 of a possible 54 first-place votes from a panel of US sportswriters and broadcasters. She will receive $25,000 US from the league and Chevy will present her with a new 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer.

Jackson is the first non-US player and the youngest to take the honour. Previously a two-time WNBA All-Star, Lauren had a break-out season with career highs in scoring, rebounding, assists and field goal percentage, leading her team to an 18-16 record and just missing the playoffs. Jackson led the league in scoring with 21.2 points per game and ranked in the top five in rebounds per game, blocks per game, field goals made, attempted free throws and double-doubles.

On June 7, Jackson became the youngest player in league history to reach 1,000 points. She also became the fifth player to record a 20-20 game, finishing with 23 points and a team-record and career-high 20 rebounds against the Charlotte Sting on July 31.

Jackson will return to Australia this week to rejoin her TransACT Capitals team mates as they prepare to win their third straight Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) title.

The 2003/2004 WNBL season tips off Oct 3.