Shakira Austin Bio
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 Rose BC of Unrivaled. She played college basketball at Maryland and Ole Miss before launching a professional career that has spanned the WNBA, overseas competition in Israel, and the 3-on-3 circuit.
Standing 196 cm (6 ft 5 in) and playing primarily as a forward and center, Austin has built her reputation on interior scoring, rebounding, and rim protection. Her career has already included an Israeli league championship, a WNBA All-Rookie selection, and a gold medal with the United States at the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup.
Early Life and Background
Shakira Austin was born on July 25, 2000, in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She grew up in the Fredericksburg area and attended Riverdale Baptist School, a program known for producing Division I talent. Her height and length made basketball a natural fit from an early age, and she developed her game against high-level competition in the region.
By the time she finished high school, Austin was regarded as one of the top players in the country. She was named a McDonald’s High School All-American in 2018 and was ranked as the fourth overall player and the second-ranked forward in her recruiting class. Those accolades drew attention from powerhouse college programs across the country.
Path to Basketball
Austin signed with the University of Maryland out of high school, joining a Big Ten program with a strong post tradition. As a freshman in 2018–19, she set a Maryland single-season record with 89 blocks, earning a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and a selection to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team.
After her sophomore year at Maryland in 2019–20, Austin was named Second-team All-Big Ten. She then transferred to Ole Miss to finish her college career. With the Rebels she became one of the top post players in the Southeastern Conference, winning the Gillom Trophy in both 2021 and 2022 and earning First-team All-SEC honors in both seasons.
Shakira Austin Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Austin’s early college years at Maryland established her as a defensive force. Her 89 blocks as a freshman ranked among the top totals in Big Ten history for a first-year player, and she added All-Defensive recognition the same season. Those numbers signaled that she could anchor a defense at the highest level of college basketball.
After transferring to Ole Miss, Austin expanded her offensive role. Her two seasons with the Rebels produced First-team All-SEC honors each year and back-to-back Gillom Trophies, awarded to the top player in Mississippi. By the time she declared for the WNBA draft, she was viewed as one of the most polished post prospects in her class.
WNBA Breakthrough (2022–2023)
On April 11, 2022, Austin was selected third overall by the Washington Mystics in the 2022 WNBA draft. She played in all 36 games during her rookie season, averaging 8.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game, and was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team.
In 2023 she battled a hip injury early in the season, appearing in only 19 of 40 games, but still raised her averages to 10.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. After the season she had surgery to repair a torn hip labrum.
Washington Mystics Era (2022–Present)
Austin has remained with the Washington Mystics since being drafted in 2022. Her 2024 campaign was again disrupted by injuries, including a re-injured hip and a late-season left ankle sprain, limiting her to 12 of 40 games. Despite the setbacks, the Mystics have continued to build around her interior presence.
By the end of the 2025 regular season, Austin had re-established herself as a cornerstone of the Mystics’ frontcourt. Her combination of size, footwork, and finishing ability around the rim has made her a focal point of Washington’s offense and a key part of the team’s defensive identity.
Playing Style and Strengths
Austin is a left-handed post player who uses her 196 cm frame to score over smaller defenders and protect the rim. She excels as a rebounder on both ends, reads double teams well in the paint, and has continued to expand her face-up game. Defensively, her shot-blocking instincts and ability to switch onto perimeter players give her team valuable versatility.
Notable Events and Milestones
Austin represented the United States at the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup, helping the team win gold. In September 2022 she signed with Israeli champions Elitzur Ramla, led the club to a second consecutive Israeli Basketball Premier League title, and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player. She was also invited to a U.S. national team development camp on November 4, 2024.
Shakira Austin Career Wins
Austin has compiled an impressive list of team and individual honors across the WNBA, international basketball, and 3-on-3 competition. Her résumé includes a WNBA All-Rookie selection, an Israeli league championship, and an Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP award.
WNBA and College Highlights
In her first WNBA season, Austin played all 36 games and earned a spot on the All-Rookie Team. In college, she set a Maryland single-season blocks record as a freshman and later won back-to-back Gillom Trophies and First-team All-SEC honors at Ole Miss in 2021 and 2022.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the WNBA, Austin led Elitzur Ramla to an Israeli Basketball Premier League championship in 2023 and was named league MVP that same year. She also competed in the inaugural season of Unrivaled in 2025 with the Lunar Owls BC and was drafted by Rose BC for the 2026 Unrivaled season.
Shakira Austin Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Limited public information is available about Shakira Austin’s family background. She was raised in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where she attended Riverdale Baptist School, but specific details about her parents and siblings have not been publicly confirmed.
Personal Life
Austin is not publicly known to be married and does not have publicly confirmed children. She maintains a presence on social media under the handles @theylove_kira on X and @curlyhead_kira on Instagram, where she shares updates about her basketball career.
2025 Season Performance
Austin’s 2025 WNBA season marked a strong return from the injuries that limited her across 2023 and 2024. She returned to the Washington Mystics’ starting rotation and re-established herself as one of the team’s top interior options, contributing consistent scoring, rebounding, and shot-blocking numbers through the regular season.
Her performance was recognized at the league level, as she received the Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year award in 2025. The honor reflected both her statistical bounce-back and her importance to a Mystics team that leaned on her health and production.
Looking ahead, Austin’s profile continues to grow. She was drafted by Rose BC for the 2026 Unrivaled season on November 5, 2025, and remains a candidate for future USA Basketball national team duties. With her injury history behind her, Austin is positioned to be a central figure for the Mystics and on the wider women’s basketball stage.