Washington Mystics center Shakira Austin is among the WNBA rookies to watch this season.
Austin is a 6 ft 5 inch center but she plays more like a petite 5 ft 3 guard.
The 21-year-old budding star put up 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Mystics who handily defeated the Minnesota Lynx 78-66 on Sunday, May 8. Austin had her first double-double as a WNBA player in the game.
.@Mooks_22 to @Theylove_kira connection is something we could get used too!#Mystics25 // #TogetherDC pic.twitter.com/6xUM6tCitb
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) May 9, 2022
Shakira Austin is about to be a problem in this league.
— Rachel Galligan (@RachGall) May 9, 2022
The Mystics (2-0) dressed only 8 players on Sunday. Star center Elena Delle Donne sat out the game.
Austin, from Fredericksburg, Virginia, played college ball at Maryland and Ole Miss. She was drafted third overall by Mystics in the 2022 WNBA draft last month.
WNBA players like Austin are more athletic on the court while displaying their femininity off the court.
In a tweet during the pandemic she wrote: “Yes I’m 6’5 wearing platforms … real stallion baby.”
Yes I’m 6’5 wearing platforms ?real stallion baby pic.twitter.com/xfSxKnvmLe
— Shakira Austin? (@Theylove_kira) October 1, 2020
WNBA fans have noticed the improvement, as more men are buying tickets to the games. The two games I watched over the weekend were nearly sold out.
Postgame with @Theylove_kira
First Career WNBA win ?
First Career WNBA points ?
First Career WNBA block ?We spoke about her first WNBA game and more. All smiles from Shakira “shes excited to be a Mystic” #Mystics25 | #wnbatwitter pic.twitter.com/6MdAMArNOI
— Wayne Cole (@waynec0le) May 7, 2022
