What Happened to Shakira Austin? Basketball Injury Update

Shakira Austin is an American professional basketball player currently with the Washington Mystics in the WNBA. She plays as the #0 center for the team and was the third overall pick in the first round of the 2022 WNBA Draft. However, she recently suffered an injury during a game against the Seattle Storm.

Let’s look at the details of Shakira Austin’s injury and when she might return to play.

How did Shakira Austin get injured while playing basketball?

Shakira Austin sustained an ankle injury on Monday night during the game against the Seattle Storm.

The 24-year-old left the game early after injuring her left ankle. According to a report from The Washington Post, she appeared to step on the foot of Ezi Magbegor and quickly went down to the floor. Her teammates surrounded her as she left the court, and the team’s training staff assisted her to the locker room. The Washington Mystics confirmed the injury in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Injury Update: Shakira Austin (left ankle) has been ruled out of tonight’s game.”

In 2023, Austin also suffered a severe hip injury that required off-season surgery to repair a labral tear in her left hip. After taking time off to recover, she missed many games, making only 29 combined appearances over the past two seasons.

When will Shakira Austin return to play with Washington Mystics?

There is currently no confirmation regarding Shakira Austin’s return to play with the Washington Mystics.

As of now, there is no official update on the severity of her injury, so her return date remains unknown. If the injury to her left ankle is minor, she may return soon. However, considering she was unable to walk back to the locker room under her own power, she might need some time off to recover.

According to Rotowire, Aaliyah Edwards and Stefanie Dolson are expected to receive extra playing time if Austin misses future games.