Up until Oct. 28, Shakira Austin was helping her teammates get better, spending time as a member of the scout team during every practice.
It was a role Austin had accepted was hers to embrace for the 2020-21 season — that is, until things changed on Oct. 29. That was the day the NCAA officially approved Austin’s waiver request, declaring her immediately eligible for the upcoming season.
The scoutee immediately became the scout, and the Maryland transfer had a new attitude and outlook on this season.
“It’s definitely been a roller coaster, coming here and having the mindset that I was going to sit this year and just being prepared to just work and watch my teammates play,” Austin said.