BC-BKL--Storm-Jackson,0230 Jackson to have ankle surgery after Olympics AP Photo OLY1171

SEATTLE (AP) - Australian and WNBA star Lauren Jackson will undergo surgery on a nagging right ankle injury after the Olympics are over.

A statement released by the Australia Olympic Committee said Jackson has an impingement at the front of her right ankle joint. She has required repeated injections to compete in Beijing and will have arthroscopic surgery in Sydney next week.

The Australians are scheduled to play China in the Olympic semifinals on Thursday night.

The surgery likely will force Jackson to miss the rest of the WNBA regular season with the Seattle Storm. Typical recovery time from the surgery is four-to-six weeks, according to the Australian Olympic medical staff, meaning the earliest Jackson would return to the Storm would be during the playoffs.

In a statement, Seattle coach Brian Agler said the Storm are disappointed to hear the news of Jackson's surgery, but added that the team supports her decision to have the procedure done immediately.



(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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