Lauren Jackson's impact on Australian basketball will extend beyond the Canberra Capitals, with plans being hatched to capitalise on the marketing potential of the million-dollar superstar.
The world's premier female basketballer returns to the WNBL next season as part of a $1million contract which will see the 30-year-old play three of the next four seasons with the Capitals.
Basketball Australia chief executive Larry Sengstock described Jackson's impending return as ''a massive opportunity for us'' and one the sport could not afford to waste.
''We've already started a lot of our discussions and plans on how we maximise that ... when she's around the country,'' he said.
''It's an overall plan with a whole lot of people involved.
''The beauty of it is Lauren's the best player in the world and she's got the profile.''
Basketball Australia's head honchos were in Canberra yesterday as new chairperson Kristina Keneally met several key stakeholders for the first time, including Capitals and Opals coach Carrie Graf and officials from the AIS.
Jackson's lucrative deal included an undisclosed contribution from Basketball Australia, but Keneally denied rival teams would feel the Capitals had an unfair advantage.
''I suspect that the benefit of Lauren's return will be much broader than Canberra Capitals,'' Keneally said. ''In some senses, maybe better for the game as a whole than it will be specifically for the Capitals.
''Her stature is such that most people recognise her whatever team she is playing for. The key thing is that she's playing here in Australia.''
Jackson is currently playing for Spanish club Ros Casares Valencia and is expected to return to Australia at the end of April.
The focus then turns to the Opals and the 2012 London Olympics, where the 1.96-metre centre will be a key figure in the quest to win gold.
Graf has been kept updated on Jackson's progress and is eagerly awaiting her return.
''She's had a good season in Spain and is pretty healthy at the moment,'' Graf said. ''She's committed to our campaign so she'll be back in the country at the end of April and crank up with us in mid May.''
The Opals are ranked No.3 in the world and will hold a two-week training camp at the AIS in May to narrow down options for contentious selection spots.
Tournaments in Asia and Europe will precede a farewell series against Brazil in Melbourne.
Keneally hopes Jackson's return will have a flow-on effect to the grassroots level of a sport that she believes is in a fantastic state.
''Lauren's return to our shores is a great opportunity ... to inspire the next generation of female basketball players,'' she said.
''A million people [both men and women] play basketball in a country of 20 million - those are impressive numbers.
''Internationally, we punch well above our weight and are well recognised around the world,'' she said.
Keneally reiterated the need to establish a WNBL commission and said new NBL teams in Brisbane and Melbourne were a priority.
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