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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 Washington Post via Getty Images

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.

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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.”

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.