A backlight assembly includes a light generating unit, a light guide plate guiding light supplied from the light generating unit, at least one optical sheet disposed over the light guide plate, and a protection sheet disposed over the optical sheet. The protection sheet includes a diffusion layer formed on a first side of the protection sheet facing the optical sheet. The diffusion layer has a thickness in a range from about 5 μm to about 100 μm. The protection sheet further includes a scratch prevention layer formed on a second side located opposite the first side. The scratch prevention layer has a thickness in a range from about 1 μm to about 10 μm.