Jessica Shepard

29-Year-Old CenterC

Dallas Wings WNBA

OUT

Injury Not Injury Related

Est. Return 5/3/2026

2025 Stats

PTS

8.0

REB

7.3

AST

2.6

STL

0.5

BLK

0.1

2026 Projections

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REB

AST

STL

BLK

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2026 Fantasy Outlook

After sitting out the 2024 campaign to fulfill overseas obligations, Shepard returned to the WNBA in 2025. While she averaged only 20.9 minutes per game, her fewest since 2021, Shepard was thrust into an expanded role whenever Napheesa Collier was unavailable. As a starter (13 games), Shepard averaged 12.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 31.8 minutes per game. She was an unrestricted free agent ahead of the 2026 season and elected to sign with the Wings, where she'll be joined by Minnesota teammate Alanna Smith, along with Maddy Siegrist and Li Yueru. The Wings have several talented options, including Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale and Azzi Fudd in the backcourt, but Shepard should have an opportunity to carve out ample playing time with her new team. Read Past Outlooks

Height 6'4"

DOB 9/11/1996

College Notre Dame

Sitting out Thursday

CDallas Wings

Not Injury Related

April 29, 2026

Shepard (not injury related) is out for Thursday's preseason game against the Fever, Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com reports.

ANALYSIS
Shepard is out with a return-from-overseas designation -- she just joined the Wings on Monday night. Her final chance to play before the regular season comes Sunday against the Aces.

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WNBA Per Game Stats

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WNBA Game Log

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2025 WNBA Per Game Split Stats

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WNBA Historical Fantasy Stats

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Wings Depth Chart

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Wings Rotation: Minutes Breakdown

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Average Fantasy Points

Average Fantasy Points are determined when Jessica Shepard was active vs. non-active during the season. Click here to view average fantasy points for a different time period.

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Past Fantasy Outlooks

2025

2024

2023

2022

Shepard sat out the 2024 season while fulfilling obligations with her team in Italy, but she re-signed with the Lynx in mid-April and should be back in the WNBA in 2025. She's had a consistent role over her last two seasons with Minnesota, averaging 8.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 26.5 minutes per game while starting in 39 of 57 regular-season appearances during that time. Bridget Carleton took on a starting role in Shepard's absence last year, while the Lynx also acquired Alanna Smith ahead of the 2024 campaign, and she served exclusively as a starter during her first season with the team. It's unclear whether Shepard will have a starting role now that she's back in the WNBA, but she could have increased opportunities after Dorka Juhasz announced that she'd sit out the 2025 season due to personal reasons. If Carleton and Smith retain starting roles, Shepard could be forced to come off the bench and compete with Karlie Samuelson and Diamond Miller for playing time.

Shepard appeared in every game during the 2021 and 2022 campaigns, but she missed significant time last year. She missed 12 games between June and July due to an illness and was out for the final eight games of the season due to an ankle injury. When she was on the court, her numbers remained steady from her 2022 marks, as she averaged 8.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 26.9 minutes per game over 21 appearances (17 starts) last year. Shepard announced in late January that she will forgo the 2024 WNBA season in order to fulfill contract obligations with her overseas club in Italy.

Shepard didn't have a fantasy-relevant role during her first two seasons in the league but took a step forward last year. She drew her first career starts to begin the regular season, and while she settled for a bench role over a month-long span between June and July, her overall production was much better than it had been in the past. The 26-year-old averaged 8.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 26.1 minutes per game over 36 appearances (22 starts), and she has a path toward a prominent role in Minnesota's frontcourt now that Sylvia Fowles has retired. That said, Napheesa Collier returns to the fold after missing most of 2022, so Shepard still has some hurdles to clear, but she should still claim a healthy role in 2023.

Shepard played exclusively off the bench in 2021 and averaged just 2.0 points and 3.2 rebounds in 10.5 minutes per game across 22 appearances. While more frontcourt minutes will be available for the Lynx for much of the 2022 campaign with Napheesa Collier slated to miss time due to her pregnancy, Shepard is far from a sure bet to see consistent playing time and would likely need some minutes help to near fantasy consideration in most formats.

More Fantasy News

Joining Dallas on Monday

CDallas Wings

April 27, 2026

Shepard is scheduled to join the Wings on Monday night, Myah Taylor of the Dallas Morning News reports.

ANALYSIS
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To be absent for start of camp

CDallas Wings

Not Injury Related

April 17, 2026

Shepard (not injury related) will report late to training camp, Landon Thomas of The Wings Bulletin reports.

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Agrees to join Dallas

CDallas Wings

April 10, 2026

Shepard agreed to a multi-year contract with the Wings on Friday, Alexa Philippou of ESPN.com reports.

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Scores 14 in Game 4 defeat

CMinnesota Lynx

September 30, 2025

Shepard recorded 14 points (6-11 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 2-2 FT), seven rebounds, two assists and two steals across 36 minutes during Sunday's 86-81 loss to the Mercury.

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Starting Game 4

CMinnesota Lynx

September 28, 2025

Shepard will start Sunday's Game 4 against the Mercury, Mitchell Hansen of CanisHoopus.com reports.

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