Center Jessica Shepard lowering her shoulder to drive hard down the lane, exploding past her defender toward the rim.
Jessica Shepard used her elite handle to pressure the interior defense, turning her multi-level versatility into a historical, record-breaking performance. Photo by Dallas Wings
Dallas WingsWNBA

Jessica Shepard Earns Second Western Conference Player Of The Week Of Season

DHJ Quick Take: Jessica Shepard Named Western Conference Player of the Week

Dallas Wings big Jessica Shepard earned her second WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week honor of the 2026 season after averaging 16.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists across three Dallas wins. She also became the fastest player in franchise history to reach 10 double-doubles in a season.

  • Why did Jessica Shepard win Player of the Week? She averaged 16.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists over three Dallas victories from June 15-21.
  • What franchise record did Shepard set? She became the fastest player in Wings history to record 10 double-doubles in a season, hitting the mark in 15 games.
  • Where does the honor rank historically? Shepard is just the second Wings player to win Player of the Week twice in one season, joining Liz Cambage in 2018.
  • What’s next? Dallas visits the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday, June 25 at 9 p.m. CT on NBA TV and KFAA.

SEATTLE — The Dallas Wings got a fixture in their frontcourt rewarded on Monday, as forward Jessica Shepard was named WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week for games played June 15-21. It is the second such honor of Shepard’s career and her second of the 2026 season.

Across three games, all Dallas wins, Shepard averaged 16.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.0 steal. The stretch was a window into the all-around production that has made her one of the steadiest pieces on a 11-6 team.

A Week Built on Versatility

The run opened June 15, when Shepard nearly logged her third triple-double of the season in a 96-66 home win over the Las Vegas Aces. She finished one assist short with 15 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists. The outing was also her third game this season with at least 15 points and 15 rebounds, which ties her with A’ja Wilson and Angel Reese for the most such performances in the WNBA in 2026.

Two days later at Golden State, Shepard recorded her 10th double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds. That double-double carried some history, because she became the fastest player in Wings franchise history to reach 10 in a single season, getting there in 15 games to tie the mark Teaira McCowan set in 2022.

She closed the week June 20 in a 93-92 win over Chicago, leading Dallas with 21 points to go with a team-high eight rebounds, three assists, and one steal in 34 minutes. It was her third 20-point game of the season and the fifth of her WNBA career.

Rare Company in Wings History

The award places Shepard alongside one of the more decorated names in the franchise’s record book. She is just the second player in Wings history to earn WNBA Player of the Week honors twice in a single season, joining Liz Cambage, who did it in 2018.

Jose Fernandez on What She Brings

Coach Jose Fernandez was asked about Shepard before Thursday’s game at Las Vegas, and he pointed to the range of things she can do on the floor.

“I love her versatility and her basketball IQ. She’s someone who can handle the ball, make passes, rebound it, and immediately start the break. She does a lot of different things that help our team,” Fernandez said.

Shepard and the Wings return to the floor Thursday, June 25 at 9 p.m. CT against the Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena. The game airs nationally on NBA TV and locally on KFAA.

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Grant Afseth

Grant Afseth

Senior Writer
is a Senior Writer for Dallas Hoops Journal and a lead contributor to Roundtable.io. With over a decade of experience as a credentialed journalist, Afseth provides breakdown of on-court and front-office strategy for the Mavericks, Wings, and Texas basketball. His reporting is featured across national platforms including Newsweek, RG.org, Hoops Rumors, and Athlon Sports. A primary source for the basketball community, his work is frequently cited by Wikipedia, RealGM, and Basketball-Reference. He previously served as a Mavericks and NBA reporter for Sports Illustrated's FanNation and Rockets/OnSI, as well as Ballislife, Heavy Sports, ClutchPoints, and NBA Analysis Network. During the Mavericks' 2024 NBA Finals run and the Luka Dončić-Anthony Davis trade—he appeared as a featured insider for The Texas Standard and BBC Sport Radio. Afseth is a regular guest on Fox 4 Dallas and 105.3 The Fan. He previously reported for the Kokomo Tribune and Winsidr. Follow his real-time reporting on X @GrantAfseth.