After one of the most frustrating seasons of her illustrious career, the four-time Olympian also revealed retirement had crossed her mind during her six-month stint on the sidelines and that she had sacrificed part of her $1 million salary.

Under the terms of the five-year, three-season deal, Jackson is due to have the 2013-14 season off, which would enable her to take up an overseas offer before returning to the Capitals for the next two seasons.

However, the Capitals are desperate for Jackson to alter the contract and play next season after she sat out the entire first season with a chronic hamstring injury.

Capitals chief executive Tony Jackson (no relation) told Fairfax Media earlier this week that the superstar centre ''needs to show maturity and a bit of professionalism, and the best way she can do that is to play next season''.

Lauren Jackson brushed those comments aside, saying her sole focus is on returning to full fitness and once again becoming a valuable contributor on the court.

''I'm just waiting to see how my body pulls up after surgery,'' she said.

''I don't want another season like this year.

''I really need to be 100 per cent sure my body can hold out because it comes down to me not wanting to let anybody down, most of all myself.''

Jackson has elected to bypass the WNBA season with the Seattle Storm.

''If I had gone back to the WNBA this year it would've been my last year [in the US],'' she said.

''I can't guarantee it would've been my best year.

''I'm very aware of the injuries I've had and making sure I get everything right.''

Jackson said she had contemplated retirement when her injury was so severe she couldn't walk after the London Olympics.

The extent of the damage wasn't revealed until she underwent surgery with Western Bulldogs AFL doctor David Young in January.

''That [retirement] was something I went through for four or five months, there was serious consideration until we made the choice to go to Melbourne and see David Young,'' she said.