Shakira Austin
American basketball player (born 2000)
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Shakira Austin (born July 25, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Washington Mystics of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for the Rose of Unrivaled. She played college basketball at Maryland and Ole Miss.
Shakira Austin, WNBA Washington Mystics Forward-Center Shooting a Free Throw 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 0 – Washington Mystics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Center | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | WNBA | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | July 25, 2000 Fredericksburg, Virginia, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| High school | Riverdale Baptist School (Upper Marlboro, Maryland) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| WNBA draft | 2022: 1st round, 3rd overall pick | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Drafted by | Washington Mystics | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 2022–present | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–present | Washington Mystics | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | Elitzur Ramla | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | Lunar Owls BC | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2026–present | Rose BC | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Stats at Basketball Reference | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medals
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College career
Austin was rated as the fourth ranked player in the nation in the 2018 recruiting class and the second ranked forward. She was also a 2018 McDonald's High School All-American. Austin signed with Maryland out of high school. Following her first season at Maryland in 2018–19, Austin was selected to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team after a school record 89 blocks. Following Austin's second and final season at Maryland in 2019–20, she was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team. After her sophomore season at Maryland, Austin announced her transfer to Ole Miss.[1][2][3]
Austin was awarded the Gillom Trophy in 2021.[4]
Professional career
WNBA
On April 11, 2022, Austin was drafted third overall by the Washington Mystics in the 2022 WNBA draft.[5] In 2022 she averaged 8.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game, playing in all 36 games.[6]
In 2023 she suffered a hip injury early in the season and ended up playing in only 19 of 40 games, although bettered her rookie year statistics, with 10.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game. [7] In the offseason, Austin had surgery to repair a torn hip labrum. She started the 2024 season, but re-injured the hip, missing significant time. Together with a left ankle sprain late in the season, the injuries limited her to playing in only 12 of 40 games in 2024.
Overseas
In September 2022, Austin signed with the Israeli champions Elitzur Ramla, until the end of the season. She led Ramla to a second consecutive championship win, and was chosen as the league's best player.[8]
Unrivaled
On September 25, 2024, it was announced that Austin would appear and play in the inaugural season of Unrivaled, the women's 3-on-3 basketball league founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart.[9][10] She played for the Lunar Owls in the 2025 Unrivaled season.
On November 5, 2025, it was announced that Austin had been drafted by Rose BC for the 2026 Unrivaled season.[11]
National Team Career
Austin participated in the 2022 FIBA Women's World Cup with the U.S. national team. The United States would win Gold at the tournament.[12] She was invited to train with the senior team in 2024.[12]
3x3
It was announced on November 4,2024 that Austin was one of 13 athletes called up to participate in development camp for the U.S. women's national team.[12]
Career statistics
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game | RPG | Rebounds per game |
| APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game | BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game |
| TO | Turnovers per game | FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| Bold | Career best | ° | League leader |
WNBA
Regular season
Stats current through end of 2025 regular season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Washington | 36 | 32 | 21.6 | .547 | .000 | .624 | 6.5 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 8.7 |
| 2023 | Washington | 19 | 17 | 23.2 | .500 | — | .610 | 7.0 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 10.0 |
| 2024 | Washington | 12 | 11 | 19.9 | .430 | .250 | .667 | 6.8 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 11.8 |
| 2025 | Washington | 38 | 30 | 23.0 | .465 | .133 | .664 | 6.4 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 12.7 |
| Career | 4 years, 1 team | 105 | 90 | 22.2 | .486 | .150 | .644 | 6.6 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 10.7 |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Washington | 2 | 2 | 27.0 | .462 | .000 | .500 | 7.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 7.0 |
| 2023 | Washington | Did not play (injury) | |||||||||||
| Career | 1 year, 1 team | 2 | 2 | 27.0 | .462 | .000 | .500 | 7.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 7.0 |
College
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | Maryland | 34 | 21 | 23.5 | .432 | — | .479 | 9.5 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 1.7 | 8.4 |
| 2019–20 | Maryland | 32 | 26 | 23.8 | .509 | .000 | .643 | 6.8 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 2.9 | 12.0 |
| 2020–21 | Ole Miss | 27 | 26 | 28.9 | .519 | .176 | .759 | 9.1 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 18.6 |
| 2021–22 | Ole Miss | 32 | 32 | 27.7 | .463 | .235 | .681 | 9.0 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 15.2 |
| Career | 125 | 105 | 25.8 | .483 | .200 | .647 | 8.6 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 13.3 | |