WNBA: Seattle Storm’s Lauren Jackson to be named league MVP, Brian Agler to be named coach of the year

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The Seattle Storm’s Lauren Jackson is to be named this season’s WNBA MVP and her coach, Brian Agler, is to be named coach of the year before Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Thursday against the Phoenix Mercury.

Jackson, a 6-foot-5 center, averaged 20.5 points and 8.3 rebounds this season. She helped the Storm finish undefeated on their home court with a 28-6 record, the best in the league. This is Jackson’s third MVP award, having also claimed the honor in 2003 and 2007.

In his three seasons with the Storm, Agler has led the team to 68 regular-season victories. This year, the Storm advanced past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2004, sweeping the Sparks in the Western Conference semifinals.

-- Melissa Rohlin