October 4, 2022
Mourning the loss of Tiffany Jackson
On Monday the news of the passing of Tiffany Jackson was felt by not only her loved ones but the entire basketball community
On Monday, the news of the passing of Tiffany Jackson was felt by not only her loved ones but the entire University of Texas, Wiley College and the basketball community. At the tender age of 37, Jackson lost her battle to breast cancer. Yet, her impact on her collegiate program, the WNBA and the friends and mentees she made along the way will be remembered forever.
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We are saddened to learn of the passing of a member of our WNBA family, Tiffany Jackson
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 4, 2022
Our thoughts and prayers are with Tiffany's family pic.twitter.com/7sppJscHmw
Texas roots
Jackson laid her roots and found her home in Texas. She spent her high school playing days at Duncanville High School and then had a decorated career at the University of Texas. She was named National Freshmen of the Year, received All-Conference honors during three seasons and was selected to the All-Big 12 Conference team four times. Also, she reigns in a league of her own in the Longhorns’ record books – as the only player with 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 300 steals and 150 blocks. It was only befitting that she returned as an assistant coach of the Texas Longhorns in 2018. She is an inductee of the Duncanville Independent School District Athletic Hall of Honor. And In April 2022, she was named the women’s basketball head coach at Wiley College, extending her footprint in her home state.
WNBA career
In 2007, Jackson heard her name called as the fifth overall pick in the 2007 WNBA draft. She spent nine seasons in the league as a member of the New York Liberty, the Tulsa Shock and finally ending her career in Los Angeles with the Sparks. Her stage three breast cancer diagnosis came out in 2015, while she was still playing with the Shock; however, after treatment, she was able to return to her overseas play in Israel and sign with the Sparks in 2017, where she concluded her career.
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A lasting impact
Present WNBA players Joyner Holmes of the Connecticut Sun and 2021 No. 1 overall pick Charli Collier of the Dallas Wings both benefited from her tutelage and have been showing their love and sending condolences. In addition, former teammates like Amanda Zahui B., Texas Longhorns Head Coach Vic Schaefer, Jackson’s former head coach Jody Conradt and Wiley College Athletics put out statements to seal the impact that is Tiffany Jackson.
Coach Conradt remarked that “she was an impact player… she was tremendously mobile… she was beloved by her teammates.” After working alongside him courtside, coach Schaefer called her “one of the greatest players in the history of Texas Women’s Basketball… meant so much to so many people in this great state of Texas… she was so excited to be the head coach at Wiley College.” The joy she brought to the game of basketball is the same joy and love she poured into those around her and for that, she will be deeply missed.
