Where is Jackie Stiles

Women's Basketball, Oct 2004

NEWS from AROUND the SPORT

Former Southwest Missouri State star and 2001 WNBA Rookie of the Year Jackie Stiles had to pull out of a one-year deal with the Townsville Fire of the Australia-based Women's National Basketball League.

Stiles' agent told the team recently that the former WNBA Portland Fire star would require immediate ankle surgery that was expected to sideline her for three to four months, according to a story that appeared in the Townsville Bulletin, an Australian publication.

Stiles has been plagued by a rash of injuries in recent years. As of this past April, the all-time NCAA career scoring leader had nine medical procedures done in a two-year span.

"Obviously this is a blow for Stiles personally, the club and indeed the league, but life must go on," Townsville basketball operations manager Denis Russell told the newspaper.

Stiles led Portland in scoring her rookie year, but was limited to 21 games in 2002 and missed the entire 2003 season with injuries. When Portland folded, the Los Angeles Sparks chose her with the last pick in the dispersal draft, but she couldn't gain medical clearance and had her contract voided.

Stiles' website can be accessed at www.jackiestiles.net. Stiles conducted basketball camps recently in Kansas.