Shakira Austin’s path to the WNBA never felt like a question, only a matter of time. Even before joining the league, she had been building her resume. Standout seasons at Maryland, a dominant run at Ole Miss, and the kind of presence that turned heads long before she turned pro.

Thanks to these, Washington made her the third overall pick in 2022. And she wasted no time proving them right, earning WNBA All-Rookie team that year. She continued her dominant run overseas, earning accolades left and right. While a lot is known about her professional life, what has her background been like, factors that influenced her journey?

What is Austin’s nationality and ethnicity?

Shakira Austin was born on July 25, 2000, in Fredericksburg, Virginia, to David Austin and Jessica King. An American by birth and of African-American heritage, she proudly traces her roots through both parents. While she has played professionally overseas, Austin holds United States citizenship.

In 2022, she was a part of the U.S. national team that brought home a gold medal at the FIBA Women’s World Cup. She averaged 8.6 points and 4.9 rebounds to make her mark. Because in 2024, she became one of 13 athletes to be called to participate in the national team’s development camp. The beginning of this journey, Austin could trace back to her family.

Her uncle, Waverly Austin, also of African-American heritage, played at the University of Oregon before going pro overseas. But the real spark came from her father.

Shakira credits him for introducing her to basketball and giving her the freedom to choose her path. Once she committed to the game, there was no turning back. She has since excelled at every level, often expressing gratitude for her success to her faith. Let’s take a look at what religion the WNBA star practices.

What is Shakira Austin’s religion?

Austin grew up in Maryland, where both her game and her faith took root. She attended Riverdale Baptist School, a private Christian school in Upper Marlboro, where she honed her basketball skills while embracing the values that have guided her since childhood. Her Christian faith remains a steady presence in her life, something she often expresses in interviews and on social media.

In 2022, after winning the Gillom Trophy, she wrote, “God is good. GRATEFUL for this!!” And in 2024, after suffering an injury, she tweeted, “Continuing to walk by faith…so I thank you Lord.”

Rated the No. 4 overall player and No. 2 forward in the nation in the 2018 recruiting class, Shakira Austin became a McDonald’s High School All-American before committing to Maryland. She made an immediate impact, setting a school record with 89 blocks as a freshman and earning All-Big Ten honors in both seasons. In 2020, she transferred to Ole Miss, where she flourished, winning back-to-back Gillom Trophies in 2021 and 2022.

The Washington Mystics drafted her third overall in 2022, and she has been steadily building her WNBA career ever since. With her talent, unwavering faith, and the strong support of her family, there’s no ceiling on how far Shakira Austin can go.