Lauren Jackson, a retired professional basketball player, has been married to her husband, Paul Byrne, since 2014.
Lauren Jackson, born on May 11, 1981, in Albury, New South Wales, began playing basketball at the age of four.
Her talent and dedication quickly set her apart, and at just 14, she led her New South Wales team to a national championship gold.
She became one of the world’s best players, winning seven WNBL championships (1998-99, 1999-2000, 2001-02, 2002-03, 2005-06, 2009-10, 2023-24) and earning MVP honors in various leagues, including a triumphant comeback in the 2022 season.
She extended her professional career to the WNBA, where the Seattle Storm drafted her first overall in 2001, and she quickly made her mark with a record-setting 55-minute debut game on July 3.
As a dominant force, she earned MVP honors in 2003, becoming the youngest and first non-American recipient, and led the Storm to WNBA Championships in 2004 and 2010.
Across her career, she amassed 6,000 points, ranking among the top scorers, with standout seasons such as 2007, when she averaged 23.8 points and was named MVP and Defensive Player of the Year.
Injuries, however, brought her WNBA career to an early end in 2012, leaving an indelible legacy.
On the international stage, Jackson joined the Australian national team at just 16, becoming its youngest member and quickly emerging as a key player.
She captained the Opals to their first-ever World Championship gold in 2006, earned Olympic silver medals in 2000, 2004, and 2008, and secured a bronze at the 2024 Olympics.
In 2024, after a remarkable final season with multiple 50-point games and following her knee replacement post-Paris Olympics, Jackson retired as a legendary figure in women’s basketball.
Her decades-long career firmly established her as one of the greatest players in basketball history and one of Australia’s most celebrated athletes.
Inside the Marriage of Lauren Jackson and Paul Byrne and Their Journey of Raising Two Kids
Lauren Jackson, the esteemed Australian basketball player, is married to Paul Byrne.
Although few details exist about how they met, the couple married in 2014 at All Saints Chapel on Hamilton Island, surrounded by a small group of family and friends.
Now, a decade into their marriage, Lauren and Paul share a strong bond built on love and trust.
Their partnership is marked by mutual understanding and support, especially given their shared connection to basketball.
Professionally, Paul Byrne is a journalist and a former basketball player.
Born in 1979 in Australia, he has largely kept a low profile despite his wife’s fame.
His basketball background has provided a shared passion with Lauren, strengthening their connection.
This shared interest has undoubtedly played a role in their deep understanding of each other’s careers.
For Jackson, her husband’s encouragement and compassionate outlook have been instrumental in helping her through life’s demanding phases.
Paul’s presence has been a source of strength, helping Lauren navigate the highs and lows of her career and personal life.
Paul maintains a private life, with no social media presence or publicly available personal details.
Neither he nor Lauren frequently shares details about their relationship or family life in the public domain.
Paul is a dedicated husband and father who is fully committed to his family.
He plays an instrumental role in creating a stable and loving environment, balancing his responsibilities as a parent and partner.
The couple has two sons, Harry, born in February 2017, and Lenny, born in December 2018.
Following Harry’s birth, Lauren expressed her joy, saying,
Having Harry was the best moment in my life, without a doubt. Looking back, I’ve been really fortunate to have done what I did in my career. But now I’m fortunate to be focusing on Harry and my kids.
Via Essentiallysports
Lauren’s journey to motherhood has not been without challenges.
Before Harry’s birth, she went through a miscarriage, an emotional experience she has openly shared on rare occasions.
Now, Lauren and her husband, Paul, are fully immersed in the responsibilities of parenthood, raising their two sons together.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Both of Lauren’s parents, Gary Jackson and Maree Bennie, were professional basketball players.
- In October 2018, she published her autobiography titled “My Story: A Life in Basketball and Beyond.“
- She was inducted into three prestigious halls of fame: the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020, and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.
