Why Is Shakira Austin Trending? Mystics Star’s Viral Moment, Injury Update & What It Means for the WNBA

Washington, D.C. — Washington Mystics center-forward Shakira Austin is officially back on the active roster, and her return could not come at a better time for a team still finding its footing early in the 2025 WNBA season. After a year plagued by hip surgery, ankle sprains and, most recently, a brief stint in concussion protocol, the 24-year-old former No. 3 overall pick has been cleared for Wednesday night’s matchup with the Indiana Fever, joining rookie front-court partner Aaliyah Edwards in what the club hopes will be its first game this year with a full complement of post players. Austin logged just 17 total minutes across two contests before the latest setback, yet her limited sample underscored why head coach Sydney Johnson calls her a franchise cornerstone. Last season, the 6'5 defensive anchor averaged 11.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and nearly a block per night, numbers that ballooned whenever she was fully healthy. Johnson’s up-tempo system is designed to run through Austin’s rim protection on one end and her improved playmaking on the other; team scrimmages this spring repeatedly featured the third-year pro igniting transition and kicking out to shooters after drawing double-teams in the paint. Her availability reshapes Washington’s rotation. Brittney Sykes has shouldered a league-leading 22.2 points per game while rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen combined for 29.2 points, but the Mystics have been out-rebounded in three of five outings and rank 10th in defensive efficiency. Austin’s presence beside the 6'3 Edwards instantly provides length, rebounding and switchability against a Fever front line headlined by reigning MVP candidate Aliyah Boston. Beyond the box score, Austin returns with a noticeably stronger frame and a clean bill of mental health after dedicating the offseason to Unrivaled’s 3×3 circuit and targeted strength work. She told local media she is “in the best shape of my career” and is intent on expanding her passing vision, noting that easy looks for teammates “open everything up for me”. Early chemistry with stretch-five Stefanie Dolson has already produced highlight give-and-go sequences in camp, a wrinkle that should unclog driving lanes for Sykes and rookie guard Jade Melbourne. The timing is crucial for Washington’s playoff aspirations. At 2-3, the Mystics begin a three-game road swing after hosting Indiana, then face the Liberty and Sky in a five-day span. A healthy Austin not only boosts rim deterrence but allows Johnson to stagger lineups and preserve rookie legs over the 40-game grind. From an individual standpoint, the former Ole Miss star enters a pivotal year. She will be extension-eligible this winter, and a productive, injury-free campaign positions her among the league’s most coveted young bigs. With Jonquel Jones and A’ja Wilson dominating early MVP headlines, Austin’s two-way upside gives Washington a potential All-Star centerpiece to build around for seasons to come. Wednesday’s tip-off against Indiana marks her first appearance at full strength since mid-August 2024. If the preseason flashes translate under the regular-season lights, Shakira Austin’s comeback could quickly evolve from good news to game-changer for a Mystics squad eager to climb the Eastern Conference standings.