Lauren Jackson to Face Media Amid Retirement Speculation

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Basketball Australia has scheduled a media conference on Thursday amid speculation that former WNBA Most Valuable Player and Seattle Storm star Lauren Jackson will retire.

The four-time Olympic medalist has been pushing to regain her fitness in time to play for Australia at this year's Rio de Janeiro Games after successive knee surgeries and complications.

Jackson, 34, came close to retiring in January after being hospitalized with an infection in her right knee joint following surgery.

She was also released from her WNBL contract with the Canberra Capitals, having played just six games in five years.

Jackson won Olympic silver medals in 2000, 2004 and 2008, losing the final each time to the United States. She also earned bronze at London in 2012, when she was Australia's flag bearer at the opening ceremony.