The two-time MVP Elena Delle Donne made her much anticipated return to the floor in the Washington Mystics season opener last night against the Indiana Fever. For Delle Donne, it was the first season opener she played in since 2018.
“First game under my belt, I was reminded yesterday that I haven’t played in the first game of the season since 2018 so it was exciting to be out there to get a win.”
Despite playing just three games in the past two seasons, she showed no signs of slowing down, scoring 21 points on 8-of-16 shooting and grabbing nine rebounds in an 84-70 victory for the Mystics.
“I’m feeling grateful to be out here. I feel like it took me a little bit to get my rhythm but my teammates stuck with me and stuck with the process of making reads” she said. “I came out with a little bit of butterflies, but good ones. I’m playing basketball again, so this is fun”
This game also featured five of the first ten draft picks in the 2022 WNBA draft: NaLyssa Smith, Emily Engstler, Lexie Hull, and Queen Egbo for the Fever and Shakira Austin for the Mystics. Smith recorded a double-double in her first career game.
In just 12 minutes of play, Shakira Austin was a plus-12 and had numerous hustle plays including a reverse layup resulting in a three-point play that got the sold out crowd at Entertainment and Sports Arena enthused. Coach Mike Thibault made Austin a part of the closing lineup that helped seal the victory for the Mystics. Her defensive prowess is what she’s known for, and it was on full display for the DMV on Friday night.
Shakira Austin made her WNBA debut on Friday against the Indiana Fever
Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images
The Mystics took command of this game from the opening tip, jumping out to a 15-point lead in the first quarter. The defense stymied the Fever early on, as the Mystics…
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