Lauren Jackson talks about choosing Seattle over Phoenix

One of the biggest off-season dramas for the Phoenix Mercury was the possibility that two-time MVP F/C Lauren Jackson was considering coming to Phoenix as a free agent. Ultimately, she choose to return to the Seattle Storm where she'd played her entire 8 year WNBA career.

Jackson and the 4-2 Seattle Storm are in Phoenix for the first time since her decision and I sat down with her court side after she got in a pre-game warm up.

Lauren had this to say to Phoenix fans that might be feeling a bit jilted by her decision, "Seattle is sort of my home and I had to make a decision and I made it, It was the best decision for me ultimately. I love playing in Phoenix. I definitely love playing here as an opposition player. It would have been fun, I know how passionate they are, it would have been fun playing as a Phoenix Mercury player but it didn't turn out that way."

Jackson said she was considering Phoenix because of the organization's history with Australian players and for the opportunity to play with her best friend Diana Taurasi. She said it would have been a great opportunity to play with the Mercury but she felt she would have regretted leaving Seattle.

Asked about fellow Australian and versatile forward Penny Taylor coming back to the Mercury, Jackson would only say that she heard that Taylor wanted to do return but didn't have any specific information on when it might happen.

Audio from the full Jackson interview after the jump.

Lauren Jackson talks to Bright Side of the Sun before the Seattle Storm vs Phoenix Mercury game on June 21, 2009.