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Mystics’ Shakira Austin voted to WNBA All-Rookie team

By Bijan Todd

Shakira Austin voted to WNBA’s All-Rookie team originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington Washington Mystics forward/center Shakira Austin was named to the WNBA’s All-Rookie team on Thursday, the league announced. She joins Chicago’s Rebekah Gardner, Atlanta’s Rhyne Howard, and Indiana’s Queen Egbo and NaLyssa Smith on the star-studded squad.

Austin enjoyed a stellar inaugural pro season in D.C., putting up 8.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks per game in Mystics threads. She finished second in Rookie of the Year voting behind Howard—who, incidentally, the Mystics elected not to draft No. 1 overall and instead traded back to No. 3, where they selected Austin. Austin was a workhorse for Mike Thibault all season, as she played 36 games in 2022 and finished top-five among Washington players in minutes, points, blocks, and field goal percentage, while leading the squad in rebounding.

Though the Mystics suffered a first-round playoff exit at the hands of Seattle, Austin played quite well during their two postseason games. She put up 7.0 ppg and 7.5 rpg during that short span. One of Austin’s calling cards as a rookie, as well as at her time in Mississippi, was her defense. “Yeah, I think I gave myself a good starting point,” Austin told NBC Sports Washington back in June. “Just from defensively being able to come in and really just do what I need to do on some key players. But I think I still have a lot more that I want to work towards.”

Elena Delle Donne back at Team USA after ‘greatest offseason ever’

By Tyler Byrum
Delle Donne back at Team USA after 'greatest offseason ever' originally appeared on NBC Sports WashingtonThe rest of the WNBA better be prepared. Elena Delle Donne just said she is coming off "the greatest offseason" of her career.No longer is she rehabbing nor easing her back toward playing at full health. The two-time WNBA MVP is building up strength, hitting PRs in the gym and gearing up for another run at a championship in 2023. Her comments came at USA Basketball's initial camp in preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics. It was just Delle Donne's second stint with the team since she had multiple back procedures in the 2019-20 WNBA offseason. Last year she joined her American teammates while they practiced at the Mystics' D.C. practice facility in January 2022. She was limited in her involvement then, participating in the first half of practices before moving to shooting-only drills. Following the WNBA season, Delle Donne opted out of the August 2022 camp in the lead-up to the FIBA World Cup, even after receiving an invite. This time, though, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist is back without restriction."I'm full go, no hesitation. I was setting some big screens today on the guys," Delle Donne said in a Zoom press conference. It would be one thing if the "greatest offseason" comment came after an ordinary offseason for one of the best players in the league. But this was an offseason where Delle Donne said she was no longer worried about progressing in her recovery. She was recovered. It's now a matter of her getting back to training workouts and improving her game."To be able to now train and not be rehabbing is so refreshing," Delle Donne said. "It had been many offseasons of rehabbing, surgeries or whatever that may be. So to be lifting now, lifting far more weight than I have ever lifted in my life, and to be on this plan to get me ready and as strong as possible for the season, I feel really good about it."Don't think that's a big deal? Look at her numbers from last season.She was one of five players to average 17+ points, 6+ rebounds and 2+ assists per game. Every player in that group made an All-WNBA team, except Delle Donne. Her player efficiency rating (25.4) was third-best in the league. Her win-share (4.4) was 10th. All of that came as she attempted to complete her first full regular season since 2019. She played 25 of the possible 36 games, leading the team to an 18-7 record which would be tied with the champion Las Vegas Aces for the highest winning percentage (.720) when stretched out to a full season.Related: Mystics aren't concerned with Liberty, Aces movesNow, with eight months of re-focusing on her abilities with her new and improved back, that will be a high ceiling she could reach this year."It's no longer 'am I going to be healthy?' It's 'how can I be the best Elena I can possibly be on court.' That's where the focus is now which is a very big relief," Delle Donne said. Getting back to playing with Team USA is one of the goals that she set out to achieve during her revival. Missing out on the 2020 Toyko Olympics - which took place in 2021 - was hard on her. She "struggled" to watch the games because of how hard it was for her to not be on the team.If she makes the roster for Paris, she can check that goal off her list. As for her WNBA goals?"(It's the same goal it always is; win a championship," Delle Donne said.
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