On Thursday, the WNBA announced that Washington Mystics center Shakira Austin was named the All-Defensive First Team. In addition, guard Sonia Citron was named to the All-Defensive Second Team. This is the first such honor for both players.
Austin led the Mystics’ low post defense, where she grabbed 408 total rebounds and blocked 51 shots in the 2026 season. Per a press release, Austin also led all WNBA players in individual shooting distance while she was the closest defender to the restricted area.
For Citron, she is the first 22 year old Mystics player since Ariel Atkins in the 2019 season to make the All-WNBA Defensive team. Her individual defensive rating was 101.7, third among all guards who averaged 30 minutes or more a game.
The Mystics were one of the WNBA’s top defensive teams in 2026 despite (or because) they had the league’s youngest roster. This is a well deserved honor.
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