Australia's finest basketballer struggles to comprehend the fact this season marks 20 years since she helped the Canberra Capitals to a maiden WNBL championship in 1999-2000.

"Gosh, 20 years ago, huh? I'm trying to think back to it," Jackson said.

Let's help her out. It was the era of bodysuits and baggy championship-winner tee shirts.

The Olympic Games were about to sweep through Sydney and Who Wants to be a Millionaire? had just made its television debut.

Jackson and a band of AIS graduates were about to help Canberra launch a dynasty of their own by taking down the dominant Adelaide Lightning.

"It was awesome. It was a period of change in my life. I was growing into a young woman, I was on my own for the first time," Jackson said.

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"I was just trying to sort out who I was and it was an incredible time. I was with Kristen Veal and Deanna Smith, and Canberra took us under their wing and we created a bit of a dynasty under Carrie Graf.

"It's a matter of having a great culture and great chemistry, and the stars aligning. Canberra has always been really well positioned in that sense.

"Canberra has been such an amazing team and they've always had great players, and great people guiding those players."

But the era which bore seven championships ended long ago as Canberra spent seven years exiled from finals until everything changed again when Paul Goriss' side returned to the summit last season.

Can Jackson see similarities between the duck-breakers and the drought-breakers? "Absolutely".

Kelsey Griffin enters this season as the league's reigning most valuable player award winner, just as Jackson did 20 years ago.

Marianna Tolo and Kia Nurse are All-Star calibre players, just as Shelley Sandie and Veal were.

So can this be the birth of a new dynasty? It may well be.

"Kelsey is just a superstar in our league. I don't think anyone has figured out how to guard her, and they probably won't in this league," Jackson said.

"She can play in a guard position or in a centre position, she is so aggressive and she works hard. She is such a great asset.

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"Tolo of course, coming back from injury, you just want to see her as best as she can be because she is just such a lovely human being and a wonderful basketball player.

"Also Kia Nurse, I've got to talk about how incredible she is. She has added another dimension to that basketball team and of course you just want to see them do well.

"Canberra is my home in the WNBL, so it's really fun to be able to watch them."

There is one playing link between Jackson's team of yesteryear and the new breed of Capitals that take to the court at the AIS Arena on Sunday - Nat Hurst, although now she will be in an Adelaide uniform.

WNBL ROUND ONE

Sunday: Canberra Capitals v Adelaide Lightning at AIS Arena, 1.30pm.