Who Is Jessica Shepard?
Jessica Shepard is a 29-year-old American professional basketball player and forward for the Dallas Wings in the WNBA. She was drafted 16th overall by the Minnesota Lynx in 2019 and signed with Dallas in April 2026. In the opening weeks of the 2026 season, she became only the second player in WNBA history to record a 20-point, 20-rebound triple-double.
Her 2026 highlights at a glance:
- Posted back-to-back historic triple-doubles in under two weeks
- Became only the second player in WNBA history to record a 20-20-10 triple-double
- Is leading the Dallas Wings in points, rebounds, and assists simultaneously
- Has helped transform Dallas from a rebuilding team into a genuine playoff contender
Jessica Shepard Biography
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jessica Shepard |
| Date of Birth | September 11, 1996 |
| Age | 29 (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Fremont, Nebraska, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Position | Forward |
| College | University of Nebraska, Notre Dame |
| WNBA Draft | 2019 (Round 2, Pick 16) |
| Drafted By | Minnesota Lynx |
| Current Team | Dallas Wings |
| Professional Debut | 2019 |
| Overseas Teams | Dinamo Sassari, Reyer Venezia, Athinaikos, Famila Basket Schio |
| Notable Achievement | Became only the second player in WNBA history to record a 20-point, 20-rebound triple-double |
| WNBA Career | 2019–Present |
Early Life and Education
Jessica Shepard grew up in Fremont, Nebraska — a small Midwestern city known for its work ethic and tight-knit community. Her upbringing shaped the grounded, adaptable professional she would later become.
Key highlights from her early life:
- Attended Lincoln Southeast High School in Lincoln, Nebraska and Fremont High School in her hometown
- Developed elite basketball instincts from a young age, standing out due to her exceptional height and natural court vision
- Her American-Slovenian heritage gave her a cultural flexibility that would serve her well during her years of international play
- Raised in a Midwestern environment that prioritized hard work, resilience, and team-first values — qualities that define her professional career to this day
College Career at Nebraska and Notre Dame
Jessica Shepard’s college career is one of the most decorated in recent women’s basketball history. She excelled at two major programs, leaving a lasting impact at each.
University of Nebraska (2015–2017)
- Earned First-team All-Big Ten honors in 2016
- Named Second-team All-Big Ten in 2017
- Won Big Ten Freshman of the Year award in 2016
- Named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team in 2016
Notre Dame (2017–2019)
Seeking a national title contender, Shepard transferred to Notre Dame — one of the best decisions of her career:
- Named First-team All-ACC in both 2018 and 2019
- Earned Third-team All-American (AP) in 2019
- Contributed to back-to-back NCAA Final Four appearances
- Won the 2018 NCAA Championship as a key contributor
- Concluded her college career as one of the most accomplished forwards in ACC history
Her Jessica Shepard college career proved she could compete at the very highest level — and that she was built for professional basketball.
Jessica Shepard’s Minnesota Lynx Career
The Jessica Shepard WNBA career began when the Minnesota Lynx selected her 16th overall in the 2019 WNBA Draft. She would spend the next several years developing into one of the league’s most complete forwards.
Her Minnesota career in summary:
- Played for the Lynx from 2019 to 2025 (with overseas stints during off-seasons)
- Averaged 8.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game across part-time starting stints
- Demonstrated consistent two-way production as both a scorer and defensive rebounder
- In 13 starts during the 2025 season, filling in for injured Napheesa Collier, she averaged:
- 12.3 points
- 10.0 rebounds
- 3.2 assists
- 1.1 steals in 31.8 minutes per game
- Proved she was capable of elite starter-level production whenever given the opportunity
The Minnesota years built the foundation for everything Shepard would later accomplish in Dallas — steady, professional, and quietly exceptional.
Overseas Basketball Experience
One of the most underappreciated aspects of the Jessica Shepard career is her extensive international experience. Rather than sitting idle in the off-season, she competed at the highest level across Europe for years.
Her overseas career timeline:
- Dinamo Sassari — Italy (2021–22): Debut European season in Italy’s top women’s league
- Reyer Venezia — Italy (2022–24): Won the Lega Basket Femminile Championship in 2024 — a professional league title
- Athinaikos — Greece (2024–25): Expanded her game in the Greek professional league
- PF Schio / Famila Basket Schio — Italy (2025): Returned to Italy with one of the country’s elite clubs
What this international journey gave her:
- Exposure to multiple coaching styles, offensive systems, and defensive philosophies
- Development of elite playmaking and ball-handling skills rarely seen in a player of her size
- A championship pedigree and a winning mentality forged across four countries
- The adaptability that would become her single greatest professional asset — and the reason she thrived in Dallas from day one
Why Jessica Shepard Joined the Dallas Wings
After the 2025 WNBA season, Jessica Shepard entered unrestricted free agency. The Dallas Wings moved quickly, officially signing her on April 11, 2026.
Why Dallas was the right fit:
- Clear starting role: The Wings offered Shepard a guaranteed spot in the starting lineup and a central role in the offense
- Perfect team fit: Dallas’s guard-heavy roster — featuring Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale, and Azzi Fudd — needed a forward who could rebound, pass, and complement ball-dominant players
- Long-term vision: The franchise was building around young stars, and Shepard’s veteran leadership was exactly what that youth needed
- System alignment: Coach Jose Fernandez’s uptempo, ball-movement offense was a perfect match for Shepard’s playmaking ability and basketball IQ
When asked how she prepared for the new system despite arriving late to camp, Shepard said simply: “I’ve been in a lot of systems.” That confidence — earned through years of international and WNBA experience — told the whole story.
Jessica Shepard’s Historic Start to the 2026 WNBA Season
The 2026 WNBA season has been a career-defining stretch for Jessica Shepard. Through eight games, she has delivered performances that have rewritten the record books and made her one of the most talked-about names in women’s basketball.
First Triple-Double Against the Chicago Sky
Date: May 21, 2026 | Result: Dallas Wings 99 – Chicago Sky 89
Shepard delivered the first triple-double of the entire 2026 WNBA season:
- 18 points on an ultra-efficient 6-for-7 shooting display
- 10 rebounds contributing on both ends of the floor
- 12 assists — a career-high, elite playmaking for a forward
- Dallas snapped a six-game losing streak against Chicago
- The Wings shot nearly 69% from the field in the third quarter — the team’s highest-scoring quarter of the 2026 season (34 points)
- Paige Bueckers added 24 points, but it was Shepard’s orchestration that unlocked the entire offense
In a single game, Shepard announced to the league that she was not just a role player — she was a franchise cornerstone.
Record-Breaking Performance vs Las Vegas Aces
Date: May 28–29, 2026 | Result: Dallas Wings 95 – Las Vegas Aces 87
This was the night Jessica Shepard made WNBA history:
- 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting
- 20 rebounds — only the second Wings player ever to reach 20 boards in a regular-season game
- 10 assists — completing a historic triple-double
- Became only the second player in WNBA history to record a 20-point, 20-rebound triple-double, joining Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun, 2023)
- Her third career triple-double — second in barely more than one week
- The Wings trailed by 8 at halftime; Shepard’s dominant second half powered the full comeback
- The game also featured Azzi Fudd’s first WNBA start (22 points on 9-of-15 shooting) — a sign that Shepard’s presence is elevating those around her
Jessica Shepard 2026 Season Stats
Through 8 games of the 2026 WNBA season, Jessica Shepard stats are among the best of any forward in the league:
| Stat | Average |
|---|---|
| Points | 13.0 |
| Rebounds | 11.4 |
| Assists | 6.5 |
| FG% | 56.8% |
Additional statistical highlights:
- Has recorded a double-double in 5 consecutive games
- Her 6.5 assists per game rank as elite production for any forward in the modern WNBA
- Shooting 56.8% from the field places her among the league’s most efficient players at her position
- Leads the Dallas Wings in rebounds and assists while ranking among the top scorers on the team
What Makes Jessica Shepard So Important to Dallas?
As a Dallas Wings forward, Jessica Shepard is the connective tissue that makes this entire roster function. Her value goes far beyond the box score.
Here is why she is indispensable:
- Frontcourt playmaking: Her ball-handling and passing ability — rare for a 6-foot-4 forward — gives Dallas an unpredictability that opponents simply cannot prepare for
- Floor spacing for guards: With Shepard drawing attention in the paint, Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale, and Azzi Fudd all operate with more space and easier looks
- Transition ignition: Her 11.4 rebounds per game regularly convert into instant offense before opposing defenses can set up
- Veteran leadership: Years of experience across multiple leagues and countries bring a calm, steady presence that stabilizes a young roster
- Mentoring Azzi Fudd: Shepard’s professionalism has given the rookie forward the ideal environment to grow — culminating in Fudd’s first career start in one of the season’s biggest upsets
- Total adaptability: Having played under numerous coaches across four countries, Shepard can adjust to any game plan, any rotation, any opponent — making her uniquely reliable for Coach Fernandez
The Wings had talent before Shepard arrived. With her, they have become a complete team.
What’s Next for Jessica Shepard?
At 29 years old and in the prime of her career, the best of Jessica Shepard’s journey may still lie ahead:
- WNBA All-Star selection is a realistic possibility if she sustains her current production through the season
- A deep playoff run with the Wings — sitting at 5-3 through eight games — would be a franchise milestone, and Shepard will be central to any postseason push
- Further individual records are well within reach as her chemistry with Bueckers and the roster continues to develop
- Her growing legacy as one of the most complete forwards in the modern WNBA is already being written — game by game, rebound by rebound
Yes. In 2026, she recorded three career triple-doubles, including two in back-to-back weeks. Her 22-point, 20-rebound, 10-assist performance vs the Las Vegas Aces made her only the second player in WNBA history to achieve a 20-20-10 triple-double.
Final Thoughts
Jessica Shepard’s 2026 WNBA season is one of the most compelling individual stories in women’s basketball. From a late signing in April to a record-breaking performer by May, the Dallas Wings forward has proven that talent combined with experience and adaptability is an unstoppable combination.
Her Jessica Shepard stats — 13 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game — reflect a player operating at an All-Star level. Her leadership, her mentorship of young teammates, and her ability to make the Wings a complete team make her value even greater than the numbers suggest.
At Buzz Arena, we will keep covering every chapter of this remarkable story. For the latest updates, deep dives, and full analysis on Jessica Shepard, the Dallas Wings, and all the biggest stories across the 2026 WNBA season, stay locked in to Buzz Arena — your home for women’s basketball coverage.
Written by James
James is a media researcher and content writer at BuzzArena with over 5 years of experience covering journalists, broadcasters, and the news industry. He focuses on delivering accurate, well-researched, and easy-to-understand content for readers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jessica Shepard?
Jessica Shepard is a 29-year-old American professional basketball forward for the Dallas Wings in the WNBA. Originally drafted 16th overall by the Minnesota Lynx in 2019, she signed with Dallas in 2026 and has since become one of the most dominant forwards in the league.
How old is Jessica Shepard?
Jessica Shepard is 29 years old, born on September 11, 1996, in Fremont, Nebraska.
What position does Jessica Shepard play?
She plays the forward position for the Dallas Wings. Her combination of size, rebounding, passing, and scoring makes her one of the most versatile forwards in the WNBA.
When did Jessica Shepard join the Dallas Wings?
Jessica Shepard signed with the Dallas Wings on April 11, 2026, joining as an unrestricted free agent from the Minnesota Lynx.
Which college did Jessica Shepard attend?
She attended two colleges — beginning at the University of Nebraska (2015–2017) before transferring to Notre Dame (2017–2019), where she won the 2018 NCAA Championship.
Has Jessica Shepard recorded a WNBA triple-double?
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