Duncanville and Texas standout, WNBA player Tiffany Jackson dies after battle with cancer

Former Duncanville basketball All-American Tiffany Jackson died on Monday after a battle with breast cancer.

She was 37

“Our prayers are with the Jackson family during this time,” Duncanville superintendent Marc Smith said.

Jackson, who was first diagnosed with cancer in 2015, was a member of the Duncanville girls basketball team in 2003 when the Pantherettes won a UIL state championship and finished with a 39-1 record.

Jackson had 16 points and seven steals in the Class 5A state title game, a 47-27 win over Georgetown.

“Tiffany Jackson was an amazing mother, daughter, friend, teammate and role model for so many,” said Duncanville head coach LaJeanna Howard, who grew up playing basketball with Jackson.

Howard was also a member of the 2003 state title team.

“She would go to schools to speak and give our young girls nuggets of wisdom that they could carry with them through a lifetime,” Howard said. “She will be dearly missed throughout the community.”

At the end of the 2003 season, Jackson was a McDonald’s All-American and named state player of the year.

Following her time at Duncanville, Jackson started 103 games for the University of Texas, where she was a three-time All-Big 12 selection and was voted the national freshman of the year in 2004.

Jackson finished her time in Austin in the Top 5 for career points, rebounds and steals and is the only UT player to reach 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 300 steals and 150 blocks.

Her college success landed her a career in the WNBA when she was drafted by the New York Liberty in the first round of the 2007 draft. She also spent time in Tulsa before playing with the Los Angeles Sparks until her retirement in 2017. Her best year came with Tulsa in 2011 when she averaged 12.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.

The Tulsa organization would move to Arlington and become the Dallas Wings in 2015.

“A Texas legend. A member of our WNBA family. A mom, daughter, teammate, mentor, and friend. Your impact will be remembered forever,” the Wings said in a tweet on Monday.

Following her pro career, Jackson was an assistant coach at Texas for four seasons. She was hired on at Wiley College in Marshall in April. She was inducted into the DISD athletic hall of honor in 2017.

“Duncanville ISD is truly honored to call Tiffany Jackson a Panther,” Smith said. “She was a shining example of servant leadership, and we are proud of who she was and what she accomplished.”