Washington Mystics center Shakira Austin has been named to the 2022 WNBA All-Rookie Team. She is the 6th Mystics player to be named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team and the first since Ariel Atkins (2018).
The third overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft, Austin averaged 8.7 points and 6.4 rebounds while shooting 54.7% from the field over 36 games (32 starts). She ranked sixth (54.7%) in the WNBA in field goal percentage this season and has the fourth highest field-goal percentage among rookie players in league history [min. 100 FGM].
Among WNBA rookies this season, she ranked third (8.7 ppg) in points, second (6.4 rpg) in rebounds, third in blocks (0.8 bpg) and third in free-throws made (68) and free-throw attempts (109).
The Ole Miss product became the 14th rookie in league history to average at least eight points and five rebounds while shooting 50.0% from the field in their first season. She totaled four point-rebound double-doubles, second most among rookies this season and her 28 five-plus rebound games are tied for the most by a first-year player in franchise history (Chamique Holdsclaw; 1999).
She became one of three Mystics to total at least 200 points and 200 rebounds in their rookie season and her 232 total rebounds mark the second most by a Washington first-year player (Holdsclaw, 246).
In Austin’s playoff debut at Seattle on August 18, 2022, she totaled 12 points (6-10 FG) and seven rebounds, becoming the first rookie in franchise history to total at least 10 points and five rebounds on 50.0%+ shooting in a rookie playoff debut, and joined Napheesa Collier (2019), Bria Holmes (2016), Breanna Stewart (2016), Brittney Griner (2013), Shekinna Stricklen (2012) and Nneka Ogwumike (2012) to accomplish this feat since 2010.
The WNBA All-Rookie Team was selected by a panel of 56 sportswriters and broadcasters, consisting of 32 national media members and 24 WNBA-market voters.