Jackson yesterday announced she would not be playing for Canberra Capitals this summer after a deadline for a revised contract with the club was not met.

Spirit coach Bernie Harrower said every Women’s National Basketball League club would be rapt to have Jackson in their line-up.

“For us there is not much chance of that happening,” the championship-winning coach said of the centre joining the Spirit.

“Our roster is just about done and dusted, as is our budget for next season.

“It would be fantastic to have Lauren Jackson in our team, but having the finances available would be incredibly difficult.”

A four-time Olympian, Jackson’s  remarkable career includes silver medals at the Sydney, Athens and Bejing Olympics and silver in London.

A team-mate in all of those Games campaigns for the Opals was brilliant guard Kristi Harrower, who is yet to decide on playing one more season with Spirit. 

Although she is not with Canberra this summer, Jackson has said she would play for Canberra in the WNBL from late 2014.

Spirit’s season tips off in Townsville on October 4 against Fire