Jackson, alongside Jayco Opal Abby Bishop and fellow Aussie Alison Lacey, came out on top as the Seattle Storm topped 2009 Champions the Phoenix Mercury 95-89 in overtime.
Jackson top-scored with 25 points, eight rebounds, four steals, two blocks and an assist in 38 minutes. Taylor was one of the best on court for Phoenix with 14 points and five assists.
Bishop got her first taste of WNBA action when she made her league debut late in the third quarter, the 2008/09 WNBL All-Star started the fourth quarter for the Storm and grabbed one rebound in her 2:46 on court.
Lacey made the most of her 1:57 to pick up two steals.
The Storm had lead for the majority of the game but allowed the Mercury to creep back in the final score.
With 42 seconds remaining in regulation time Taylor had an opportunity to level the scores from the charity stripe, but only slotted one of the free throws.
The final 30 seconds was a calamity as Storm coach Brian Agler was awarded a technical foul, which 2009 WNBA MVP Diana Taurasi converted at the other end to level the game at 82-82 with 23 seconds remaining. An off the ball foul on an inbounds play sent Jackson to the line but the shot didn’t fall and neither team could get off a clean shot as the game was sent into overtime.
The Mercury could not hold onto the ball and Seattle ran out the game six-point victors.
With news on the weekend that the San Antonio Silver Stars have waived Olympian Belinda Snell, the four Aussies in action yesterday and Indiana Fever’s Tully Bevilaqua are the only ones remaining in the league.
Bevilaqua was in action Monday morning against the Chicago Sky. Playing nearly 20 minutes, the defensive specialist was brought into the game late, on the court with four of the Fever’s starters, to ensure the Sky did not overpower Indiana in the final minutes.
The Beijing Olympian tallied three steals and an assist.
Taylor and the Mercury are on the road against the Tulsa Shock on Wednesday from 9.00am AEST the Aussie-laden Storm are back on their home court against Washington Mystics on Wednesday from 12.00pm AEST and Bevilaqua and the Fever also on the road in Tulsa on Sunday May 30 from 10.00am AEST.
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