WNBA's Shakira Austin is 6 feet 5 inches tall and plays as a center and forward. Shakira Austin was drafted by the Washington Mystics as the third overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft. Before turning pro, she played college basketball at the University of Maryland and the University of Mississippi.
Advertisement
Shakira Austin Net Worth, Salary, Bio, Husband, and Professional Career

In her senior season at Ole Miss, she averaged 15.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game, garnering First-Team All-SEC recognition. As a rookie with the Washington Mystics, Austin contributed heavily, averaging 8.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, and was included on the 2022 WNBA All-Rookie Team.
Shakira Austin Early Life

Shakira Austin was born on July 25, 2000, to David Austin and Jessica King in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She is the oldest among six siblings, a position that defined her leadership on and off the court. The athletic career of Austin started at an early age.
Austin was introduced to several sports, including soccer and track and field. But, in seventh grade, when she stood at 6'3", she returned to basketball, appreciating her potential in the game. Now let's learn about her in detail.
Shakira Austin Personal Information
Austin was drafted third overall in the 2022 WNBA Draft by the Mystics. Aside from basketball, she has also had interests in fashion designing and community work. We have compiled her personal details in the table below:
Player Information | Details |
---|---|
Full Name | Shakira Austin |
Position | Forward-Center |
Date Of Birth | 25 July 2000 |
Age | 24 years (as of May 2025) |
Height | 6 feet 5inch |
Weight | 190 lbs |
Hometown | Fredericksburg, Virginia |
Current Team | Washington Mystics |
Nickname | "Shaq" and "Curly Head Kira" |
Father | David Austin |
Mother | Jessica King |
Salary | $91,981 |
Advertisement
Shakira Austin Personal Life
Shakira Austin has a tight-knit relationship with parents Jessica King and David Austin. Her dad, who was once a jeweler, exposed her to basketball as a child, stressing versatility and skill-building. According to Queen Ballers Club, Austin remembers, "My dad always put that on me... He trained me up to pretty much be a guard."
Shakira Austin Boyfriend
As of May 2025, Shakira Austin has not made any publicized romantic relationships. She keeps her personal life private, and there is no confirmed news about her relationship status. Austin has not been associated with any public figures in any form of romantic relationship. Her attention is set on her professional basketball career playing for the Washington Mystics in the WNBA.
Since she is dedicated to her sport and keeping her private life private, there are no latest updates or speculations about her love life.
Shakira Austin Parents

Shakira Austin was born to David Austin and Jessica King. Her parents have played a significant role in her basketball career. David, who was a former basketball coach, introduced Shakira to basketball at an early age so that she could determine whether she liked it or not.
She was not interested at first, but in middle school, she went back to basketball and developed a passion for it very quickly. The WNBA player's mother, Jessica, is a businesswoman who owns her own clothing line. She regularly posts inspiring quotes and likes to spend time with her children. She shows her pride in Shakira's success and has been a constant source of motivation.
Shakira Austin Contract

Shakira Austin now holds a 3-year $2,26,668 deal with the Mystics, as per Spotrac, in 2025, Austin's salary is $91,981, and her cap hit will be the same. Her contract ends in 2026, and at that time, she will be a restricted free agent, however, it is reported that Mystics might be getting many key members will be unrestricted free agents in 2026, including All-Stars like Brittney Griner, DeWanna Bonner, Brionna Jones, and more. During her term, much growth has been seen, and the court impact Shakira has shown. Adversity struck late in 2023 when the player needed hip injury surgery. However, Austin stayed productive and helped make the Mystics successful.
Shakira Austin Salary
Throughout her WNBA deal, Shakira Austin has shown much growth and made a big difference on the court. Even with the tough times, like a hip injury that needed surgery in late 2023, she has kept helping the Mystics win.
For a detailed breakdown of her contract terms, including annual salaries and cap hits, please refer to the table below:
Year | Base Salary | Cap Hit |
---|---|---|
2022 | $72,141 | $72,141 |
2023 | $73,584 | $73,584 |
2024 | $80,943 | $80,943 |
2025 | $91,981 | $91,981 |
2026 | Restricted Free Agent | Restricted Free Agent |
Advertisement
Shakira Austin Net Worth

As of May 2025, Shakira Austin has an estimated net worth of around $500,000 to $700,000. This figure includes her earnings from the WNBA, endorsement contracts, business activities, and charitable works. Although particular endorsement contracts are not made public, Austin has shown a passion for fashion and modeling. According to SLAM, she has taken part in New York Fashion Week in February 2024, reflecting on her passion for the fashion world. Her increasing public presence indicates possible future collaborations with sportswear and lifestyle brands.
Shakira Austin Business Ventures and Endorsements
Shakira has involved herself in media activities such as podcasts and interviews, it's where she comments on issues of marketing women's basketball as well as sharing about herself. Moreover, in regard to community engagement, she has been actively involved in local causes within Washington, D.C., advocating for underrepresented communities. Her involvement in affairs and partnerships with local businesses is an indication of her commitment to giving back to her hometown.
Shakira Austin Career

Shakira Austin has proven herself in the basketball world. She was a force at her highschool Riverdale Baptist and her college University of Maryland and later proved herself in the WNBA courts. There is no doubt why the mystics wanted her as forward-center in their team. Today we will explore her career journey in detail.
Shakira Austin High School Career
Austin played at Riverdale Baptist School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, where she developed her game and earned national recognition. She was named a McDonald's All-American and played in the Jordan Brand Classic during her high school years. Her high school stats and awards highlight her potential and pave the way for her future success.
Shakira Austin College Career
Austin started her college career at the University of Maryland, where she immediately made a name for herself. She played there for two seasons before transferring to the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), where she continued to dominate and receive many accolades. Her college honors and statistics show her development and dominance on the court.
Season | PPG | RPG | BPG | Awards |
---|---|---|---|---|
2018–2020 | NA | NA | NA | All-Big Ten Freshman Team (2019), All-Big Ten Second Team (2020) |
2020–2022 | 15.2 | 9.0 | 2.1 | First-Team All-SEC (2021, 2022), Gillom Trophy (2021, 2022), SEC All-Tournament Team, Lisa Leslie Award Top-10 Finalist |
Shakira Austin Professional Career
Austin's career started when she was picked by the Washington Mystics as the third overall choice in the 2022 WNBA Draft. She has since played both internationally and domestically for the league, and has been awarded for her services.
Year | Team | Notable Achievements |
---|---|---|
2022 | Washington Mystics | WNBA All-Rookie Team |
2022–2023 | Elitzur Ramla (Israel) | Israeli Champion, Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP |
2025–present | Lunar Owls BC (Unrivaled) | Participant in inaugural season of Unrivaled 3x3 league |
Advertisement
Shakira Austin Awards and Achievements

Shakira Austin has garnered various awards over the course of her basketball career. While at the University of Maryland, Austin received All-Big Ten Honorable Mention recognition and was selected to the All-Big Ten Freshman and Defensive Teams in 2019.
Austin also broke the Maryland single-season record for blocks with 89. Internationally, Austin played for Elitzur Ramla in Israel, where she guided the team to a championship and received the league's Most Valuable Player award. We have listed some of her notable awards and accomplishments in a tabular form:
Year | Award | Details |
---|---|---|
2018 | McDonald's All-American | Recognized as one of the top high school players in the nation. |
2021 | First-Team All-SEC | Awarded for exceptional performance in the Southeastern Conference. |
2021 | Gillom Trophy | Named the best collegiate women's basketball player in Mississippi. |
2021 | WBCA NCAA Division I All-America Honorable Mention | Recognized among the top players in Division I basketball |
2022 | FIBA Women's World Cup Gold Medalist | Part of the team that won the gold medal at the World Cup in Sydney. |
2023 | Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP | Named the most valuable player in the Israeli league. |
2023 | Eurobasket.com Israeli League Player of the Year | Awarded as the top player in the Israeli league. |
2023 | Eurobasket.com Israeli League Center of the Year | Recognized as the top center in the Israeli league. |
2023 | Eurobasket.com Israeli League Import Player of the Year | Awarded as the top import player in the Israeli league. |
2023 | Eurobasket.com Israeli League All-Imports Team | Selected for outstanding performance among import players.
|
Advertisement
FAQs
How many championships does Shakira Austin have?
+
How many championships does Shakira Austin have?
Shakira Austin has one WNBA championship with the Washington Mystics in 2025.
Where is Shakira Austin from?
+
Where is Shakira Austin from?
Shakira Austin is from Fredericksburg City in Virginia.
What number is Shakira Austin?
+
What number is Shakira Austin?
Shakira Austin wears the number 0 jersey.
What is Shakira Austin’s highest-scoring game?
+
What is Shakira Austin’s highest-scoring game?
Shakira Austin scored her highest points on August 20, 2024, against the Seattle Storm, where she scored 24 points.
Is Shakira Austin retired?
+
Is Shakira Austin retired?
No, Shakira Austin is not retired.
Is Shakira Austin married?
+
Is Shakira Austin married?
No, Shakira Austin is not married, plus she is very private about her relationships.
What is Shakira Austin’s net worth?
+
What is Shakira Austin’s net worth?
Shakira Austin’s net worth is unavailable, however, she does have a 3 year, $226,668 contract with the Washington Mystics.
How tall is Shakira Austin?
+
How tall is Shakira Austin?
Shakira Austin's height is 1.96 m.
Does Shakira Austin have children?
+
Does Shakira Austin have children?
No, Shakira Austin does not have any children.
Conversation
(0 Comments)
Editor's Pick
Editor's Pick