WOMENS BASKETBALL

'Tiffany was a gift': Texas mourns the loss of former All-American Tiffany Jackson

Austin American-Statesman

Former Texas star Tiffany Jackson is one of only three UT women's basketball players to be a three-time All-American. She played nine years in the WNBA. Jackson died Monday at age 37 after a battle with cancer.

Tiffany Jackson, one of the greatest players in the history of the Texas women’s basketball program, died Monday after a battle with cancer.

Texas confirmed the news Monday night. Jackson was 37.

"Tiffany had a great career and was an impact player," former UT coach Jody Conradt said in a statement. "She was recognized for her all-around game and the fact that she was tremendously mobile and could play multiple positions. She was beloved by teammates, and we share in the sadness of her passing."

A McDonald’s High School All-American and state champion at Duncanville, Jackson was as good as advertised once she arrived at Texas in 2003. The 6-foot-3 forward eventually joined Andrea Lloyd and Linda Waggoner as the only three-time All-Americans to play at Texas.

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Jackson ranks among UT's all-time leaders in points scored (fifth), rebounds (fourth), steals (third) and blocks (seventh). As a freshman, she helped Texas reach the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament. She was the fifth overall pick of the 2007 WNBA draft and played nine years in the WNBA.

In 2018, she returned to Texas as an assistant coach. During her one season on Karen Aston's coaching staff, she mentored then-freshman Charli Collier. Collier would later become UT's first AP All-American since Jackson and the No. 1 overall pick of the 2021 draft.

"Speechless, R.I.P," Collier tweeted on Monday. "Love you coach always."

Texas head coach Jody Conradt hugs Tiffany Jackson in the final minutes of the 67-58 loss to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals on March 7, 2007. It was the final game at Texas for both of them; Conradt resigned one week later and Jackson was drafted fifth overall in the WNBA draft one month later.

"Tiffany was more than a basketball player and athlete," Karen Aston said in a statement. "She was a wonderful mother to her son, Marley, and a fierce advocate for women’s rights, Black history and in particular, took it personal to educate women about breast cancer. She wanted to use her platform to raise awareness of early detection and screening. I am proud to have been her friend, her coach and her colleague. She is an inspiration to all who have witnessed her courage.”

UTSA associate head coach Jamie Carey both played with Jackson and coached alongside her former teammate at Texas. In a statement provided to the American-Statesman, Carey said that, "Tiffany was a gift. Impactful. Resilient. Strong. Caring. Special and intentional with her impact on people. Unbelievably resilient to fight for so long, while giving the gift of strength to all of us. Tiffany cared deeply for all of us fortunate enough to cross her path.

"She changed us, she changed me," Carey continued. "To my teammate, to my friend, I love you and you will be missed. For all you have given, we all will carry you forward. My deepest condolences to everyone that loved Tiffany, to her family and to (her son) Marley.”

In April, Jackson was named the head coach at Wiley College. In a press release, the Marshall-based NAIA program said it will honor Jackson at its first home game on Nov. 5.

Current Texas coach Vic Schaefer said Tuesday that he had been in contact with Conradt, but no plans had yet materialized about how UT will honor Jackson. Schaefer coached against the Texas teams that Jackson played on while he was an assistant coach at Texas A&M.

"It's a sad day," Schaefer said. "Our hearts and prayers go out to the family. Way too young."