When her iPhone rang at 5 a.m. in Shanxi, China, Shakira Austin knew who was on the other end. She had switched her call settings to “Do Not Disturb” the night before, with one important exception. It was April 14, the morning of Game 1 of the finals of the Chinese women’s basketball league, and when Austin picked up the phone, she heard the familiar voice of her agent.
The deal was done, Fabio Jardine said. You’re staying in Washington.
Austin, 25, hadn’t slept much the previous two nights as she waited to hear whether the Washington Mystics would match the three-year, $3.57 million offer sheet with which the expansion Toronto Tempo had tried to pry her away. And now that she had confirmation in the affirmative, she posted quickly on her socials to the fans back in D.C. – “forever my cityyyyyyy,” she wrote – and crashed out into a deep and blissful sleep.