Unrivaled offers players the opportunity to play offseason basketball in the U.S., make good money, and continue competing against top competition. For many, it is also an opportunity to develop and add to their skill set. Last year, for example, Azurá Stevens left Miami as a much-improved 3-point shooter and scorer, which led to a career season in the WNBA.
That alone is enough reason to expect improvement from the Mystics’ young trio of Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, and Shakira Austin. Austin is technically a restricted free agent, but given the trio’s success last season and its potential, it seems safe to assume that the Mystics will do everything they can to re-sign her.
Austin just played the best game of her second Unrivaled season, but that isn’t the only reason Mystics fans should expect a big 2026 WNBA season from her. Lisa Leslie, who works on Unrivaled’s broadcast and helps players with their development, said late in the third quarter of the Rose’s 89-71 loss to the Mist that she would start working with Austin soon.
“I got Shakira on my list, folks,” Leslie said. “I’ll be working with Shakira soon.”
Austin recorded her second double-double of the season
Austin may come off the bench for Nola Henry’s Rose team, but she still plays important minutes and gets the reps necessary to improve. Against the Mist, she played 19.6 minutes. She finished the game with 29 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. Austin led all players in points and finished second in rebounds in the game.
It was Austin’s second double-double of the season and the first time she cracked the 20-point mark. Unrivaled’s spacing and speed allow Austin to work on parts of her offense she can’t explore in the same way with the Mystics.
The 2025 season was a career year for Austin who had struggled with injuries in the previous two seasons. She averaged career-highs in points, assists, steals, blocks, and field-goal attempts. If Unrivaled can help her improve even further, Washington’s young core will be one step closer to a future as a playoff team. Between Austin, Iriafen, Citron, Georgia Amoore, and their 2026 lottery pick, the Mystics have a treasure trove of young talent to build around. A good 2026 season could get the ball rolling on the Mystics’ path to regaining their status as a playoff team and posisble contender.
Working with Lisa Leslie will help Austin improve
Game reps are often the key to young players’ improvements. So, playing significant minutes for Rose BC will help Austin develop. But there is also no substitute for getting advice and help from one of the best players to ever play the game at your position.
Lisa Leslie was one of the WNBA’s original superstars. She played for the Los Angeles Sparks between 1997 and 2009. During her career, she won two championships, was named the regular-season MVP three times and the Finals MVP twice, took home two Defensive Player of the Year awards, led the league in blocks twice, and made several All-WNBA, All-Defensive, and All-Star teams.
Even after all this time, Leslie still ranks third in all-time blocks, sixth in rebounds, and thirteenth in points. There are few better people to learn from for a young big like Austin than Lisa Leslie.
Leslie also worked with Angel Reese ahead of the 2025 WNBA season. Reese improved notably as a scorer, upping her field-goal percentage from 39.1% to 45.8%. One big criticism around Reese’s rookie season was that she wasn’t efficient enough around the basket. After working with Leslie in the offseason and playing in Unrivaled, Reese shot 50.7% in the restricted area and 40% in the paint.