Shakira Austin notched the second double-double of her young career and received a rousing standing ovation after playing a pivotal role in the Mystics beating the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday, 83-65.
The double-digit win avenges their overtime loss to Phoenix on Sunday.
Austin finished with a team-high 16 points and 10 rebounds while battling Tina Charles, who scored 19 points. Austin also had this memorable interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe, letting the longtime women’s basketball reporter and the world know “I’m Like That.”
Shakira Austin is SO GOOD! This rookie gives me one of the best answers ever after another double double for the @WashMystics with another win. @WNBA pic.twitter.com/JSuaoN2VDa
— Holly Rowe (@sportsiren) June 15, 2022
According to the Washington Post, Austin walked into the postgame media session proclaiming “I’m tired,” with two large ice bags wrapped around her knees. Austin was in the trenches for 26 minutes, digging under Charles so much that the former MVP hacked Austin after the rookie forced a Charles miss.
The former Ole Miss Rebel got hers against Charles, beating the WNBA legend off the dribble before banking in a running hook.
“She has no fear,” Coach Mike Thibault said. “She just doesn’t. We interviewed her for the draft, and she was looking forward to all these players to play against because they were people she had looked up to — She’s tried to steal from parts of their games, and she wants to go test herself against them.”
Natasha Cloud (six points and 10 assists) added: “She’s a dog. She’s a dog — She is going to have respect for who you are, but she don’t care at the end of the day. She knows who she is, too.”
The Mystics (10-6) return to action on Thursday with a road game against the New York Liberty.
