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WNBA Player Gets Ejected from the Bench During Season Opener

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dean Koutouratsas | Last updated May 18, 2025 5:42 PM ET

The Washington Mystics defeated the Connecticut Sun, 90-85, on Sunday in Uncasville, Connecticut, to move to 2-0 on the young WNBA season.

Things got intense late in the first quarter when Mystics starting center Shakira Austin was called for a common foul, but then received a technical foul for pushing Sun center Kariata Diaby and guard Marina Mabrey. Mabrey, 28, would also receive a technical foul for her role in the altercation.

As the contest went on, Austin, 24, watched her night come to an end prematurely after receiving a second technical foul during the third quarter for yelling something while sitting on the bench. She finished her regular season debut by only playing seven minutes, scoring four points and grabbing three rebounds.

Shakira Austin gets two technical fouls and is ejected from the game against the Sun.
— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) May 18, 2025

Last season, Austin was tied for ninth in technical fouls with four in only 12 games played. The former Ole Miss Rebel averaged a career high in points of 11.8 per game to go along with 6.8 rebounds per game during her 2024 campaign.

Washington's Brittney Sykes led all scorers with 27 points on Sunday. Kiki Iriafen, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 draft, notched a double-double in her WNBA debut with 17 points and 14 rebounds. The Sun got 23 points and 10 rebounds from Tina Charles.

The Mystics are looking to improve on last season's 14-26 campaign. During the offseason the Mystics hired Jamila Wideman to be their next general manager after parting ways with Mike Thibault in October 2024. The organization also appointed Sydney Johnson to become their next head coach after splitting up with Eric Thibault.

The Mystics' next matchup is scheduled for Wednesday against the WNBA’s newest team, the Golden State Valkyries.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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