The WNBA’s AP Award winners list is out, with very few surprise winners for the categories. A’ja Wilson and Paige Bueckers clinched the top awards, while other winners included Veronica Burton as the Most Improved Player award winner and Shakira Austin as the Comeback Player of the Year award.
Her closest competition was Cameron Brink, who also made a strong return to the action, but the Mystics’ forward was far more consistent and played in more games, earning her the award at the end of the season.
Shakir Austin With Heartfelt Message For Fans
The 2022 rookie had a tough start to her career. Even though she played in her complete rookie season, first a hip injury and then an ankle injury kept her out of action for most of the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Making hr return in the 2025 WNBA season, the former Ole Miss player not only played in 38 games but produced scintillating performances to earn the AP Comeback Player of the Year accolade. Upon winning the title, the player shared a post on ‘X’ and wrote, “Man….God is so good to me. I sometimes questioned when my journey would start to see the light, but I wouldn’t trade my strength, my resilience, or my testimony for ANYTHING!!!! Just the beginning”.
Playing in her fourth season, the 25-year-old star put up her career-best stats with 12.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game. Though she was not the top scorer or rebounder on the team, she had an overall impact on the games, helping the Mystics to a 10th-place finish. Austin led the young squad to some surprise wins, keeping the playoff hopes alive till the last phase of the season.
Man….God is so good to me. I sometimes questioned when my journey would start to see the light, but i wouldn’t trade my strength, my resilience, or my testimony for ANYTHING!!!! Just the beginning🙂↔️🤍 https://t.co/rUsPmlvjYP
— Shakira Austin✨ (@Theylove_kira) September 12, 2025
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Still, there are strong chances that the accolade won’t help the franchise keep her in the roster for next season, and the player is already hinting at a possible exit.
Shakira Austin Could Still Leave Washington Mystics
Despite the franchise and HC showing faith in the player, the forward dropped hints about leaving the franchise. She played a key role in the team’s success so far, clocking in most minutes and delivering heavy numbers on the floor. The franchise’s inclination towards a younger roster could force her way out of the capital city.
“I wanna play with great people. I wanna play with people that have also won, and just help to put us in the best situation possible. Everything will just kinda be shown in how the front office handles things,” she said in an interview.
Like many other star forwards, Austin is a very experienced and handy player who could impact the games immediately for any franchise. Now, with an individual accolade under her belt, she is raising her status in the free agency market.