AP Source: Seattle's Jackson to be named MVP

Sep 2, 2010 - 4:17 PM By TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer

SEATTLE (AP) -- Seattle Storm forward Lauren Jackson will be named WNBA most valuable player for the third time in her career, a person with knowledge of the voting told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Jackson will be honored before Game 1 of Seattle's Western Conference semifinal against Phoenix on Thursday night. Seattle coach Brian Agler will also be honored as the league's coach of the year.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the awards weren't being formally announced until later Thursday. The New York Times and Seattle Times first reported the awards.

Jackson led Seattle to the best record in the league and matched the most wins in league history with 28. The Australian star averaged 20.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in the regular season.

Finally healthy, Jackson again showed why she is considered one of the top players in the world. After battling ankle and back problems that cost her parts of the previous two seasons, Jackson managed her health in 2010 and the Storm benefited.

Jackson scored 20 or more points in 16 of her 32 games this season, sitting out twice simply for rest as the Storm raced to a 22-3 start and coasted to the finish. Jackson finished fourth in the league in scoring.

Jackson was previously league MVP in 2007 when she averaged a career-best 23.8 points, and in 2003 when Jackson was the first international player and youngest player to ever receive the award.

Agler is in his second head coaching job in the WNBA after being the first coach of the Minnesota Lynx from 1999-2002. After marginal success with the Lynx, Agler has found greater success in Seattle.

In three seasons with the Storm, Agler has led Seattle to 68 victories in the regular season. Seattle finally shook its five-year playoff curse and advanced out of the first-round of the playoffs with a sweep of Los Angeles last week.