Mississippi Professional Athletes

Shakira Austin isn't waiting for the WNBA to come to her — she's going to get it herself.

The Ole Miss alum and Washington Mystics center has emerged as the frontrunner for the league's Most Improved Player award, and the numbers from this week's stretch back up the hype. Austin dropped 17 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, a steal, and a block in Friday's 84-94 loss to the Lynx, then followed that with an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double in a 93-82 win over the Tempo on Wednesday. That's back-to-back strong performances — or better — during a pivotal late-season window for a Washington team sitting at 20-14.

The production isn't new. Just before the Aug. 16 window opened, Austin put up 17 points and 11 rebounds in an 80-70 win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Aug. 15 — a game the Mystics needed badly after dropping back-to-back contests in Las Vegas. It was Austin's layup with six minutes left in the fourth quarter that gave Washington its first lead since halftime, a sequence that underscored just how central she's become to this team's identity.

Since being drafted third overall by Washington in 2022, Austin has steadily expanded her game. This season, the leap has been undeniable: she's not just a paint presence but a facilitator, a closer, and increasingly a vocal leader. "I look around the league," Austin said in a recent interview, sending a deliberate message to her peers. It wasn't arrogance — it was a statement of arrival.

FanSided has already called her the "clear favorite" for Most Improved Player, and it's not hard to see why. The combination of statistical consistency, situational impact, and the sheer scope of her development from raw draft pick to cornerstone makes her case compelling.

Other Ole Miss Alumni to Watch

Austin isn't the only Mississippi product on the Mystics' roster. Guard/forward Cotie McMahon and Madison Scott are also on Washington's active roster this season, giving the Mystics a notable Ole Miss contingent. Meanwhile, Marquesha Davis remains with the Chicago Sky as the other active WNBA alumna from Oxford — though the spotlight this week belongs squarely to Austin.

With the regular season winding down and award narratives solidifying, Austin's timing couldn't be better. She's producing when it matters, on a team fighting for positioning, in a league increasingly paying attention. Ole Miss fans have reason to watch every Mystics box score closely — their most prominent alum is making sure of it.

The Ole Miss Center Fueling a Mystics Revival

Shakira Austin is healthy, she's dominant, and she may be the most improved player in the WNBA right now. The Ole Miss alum had the kind of week that turns heads across the league, posting back-to-back bulldozer performances as the Washington Mystics rattled off their fifth straight win and staked a serious claim in the playoff picture.

The Comeback No One Saw Coming

Wednesday against the Dallas Wings looked grim. Washington trailed 76-56 with three minutes left in the third quarter — down 20, staring at a blowout loss. Then Austin and fellow Mystic Cotie McMahon simply refused to let it happen.

Austin finished with 27 points and 13 rebounds, anchoring a furious 40-16 run to close the game. McMahon, a rookie, poured in 10 of her season-high 18 points in the fourth quarter — including a three-point play that gave Washington its first lead of the game at 89-88. Final score: Mystics 96, Wings 92. It was the kind of comeback that changes the temperature of a season.

Locking Down Angel Reese

Two nights later, Austin got a different kind of test: Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream, coming off a big win over Phoenix. Austin was better. She finished with 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting, 11 rebounds, and five blocks — a stat line that doubled as a defensive masterclass. The Mystics won 79-74, handing Atlanta a loss that meaningfully dented their postseason hopes.

Austin herself broke down her approach against Reese post-game — what she called a "seatbelt" effort — a strategy disciplined enough to neutralize one of the WNBA's most physical young forwards.

Most Improved Player Buzz Is Real

Back-to-back games of 27/13 and 21/11/5 don't happen by accident, and they don't go unnoticed. Austin is drawing serious Most Improved Player consideration, per The Sporting News, and the numbers back it up. After battling injuries that have shadowed her early career, the Ole Miss product is finally showing what a fully healthy version of Shakira Austin looks like. Washington is reaping the rewards.

McMahon, also a Mystic, contributed meaningfully in the comeback win — her fourth-quarter burst was essential — giving Ole Miss fans two reasons to tune in on game nights this stretch.

The Bigger Picture

Washington's five-game winning streak has shifted the Mystics from a fringe story to a genuine threat. Austin is the engine. If she sustains this level into the final stretch of the regular season, the Most Improved Player conversation won't just be buzz — it'll be a formality.