archiveJessica Shepard

DHJ Quick Take: The Battle for the Boards Containing the "Double-Double Queen": After Angel Reese opened her Dream tenure with 14 rebounds, Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard are tasked with neutralizing her second-chance energy. Smith’s focus on "limiting Reese on the glass" is the game's swing factor; if Dallas can...

DHJ Quick Take: Dallas Wings Gear Up for Home Opener Pace vs. Protection: The Wings' high-octane offense (107 points in the opener) faces its first structural test against an Atlanta team that thrived in transition last year. Paige Bueckers identified "slowing the fast break" as the top priority, noting that...

DHJ Quick Take: Postgame Perspectives from Indy Cohesive Efficiency: Jose Fernandez noted that the team’s 59.1% shooting percentage—the second-best in WNBA opener history—resulted from the roster’s immediate buy-in to a motion-heavy offensive identity and high-level ball movement. Backcourt Synergy: Arike Ogunbowale and Paige Bueckers addressed their fit as a duo,...

DHJ Quick Take: The High-Octane Era Arrives Offensive Fireworks: Scoring 107 points on nearly 60% shooting in a road opener is a statement. The Wings' identity is now clear: if they are in the 90s or 100s, they believe they are unbeatable. The 26 assists on 39 baskets prove that...

DHJ Quick Take: The Blueprint for Indy The Boston Variable: The biggest shift from preseason to Saturday is the presence of Aliyah Boston. In the preseason meeting, the Wings dominated the paint (50-30), but with Boston back, Jessica Shepard and Alanna Smith face an "elite passer" and finisher who can...

DHJ Quick Take: The Paige Bueckers Era is Here The Ultimate Endorsement: Being voted the #1 player to build a franchise around by WNBA GMs—beating out a four-time MVP in A'ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark—is the definitive "passing of the torch" moment. It proves that the basketball world views Bueckers’...

DHJ Quick Take: Expanding the Roster Through New CBA Rules The New Roster Layer: The addition of Costanza Verona and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu marks the first time the Wings are utilizing the league's new Developmental Player designation. This setup allows Dallas to keep two high-caliber pros in the building to...

DHJ Quick Take: Arike Ogunbowale’s Legacy of Loyalty The Culture Shift: Arike Ogunbowale’s decision to re-sign for less than the super max is the foundational move of the Jose Fernandez era. By prioritizing roster flexibility over personal salary, she helped facilitate the signings of Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard, proving...

DHJ Quick Take: Arike Ogunbowale Returns to Dallas Wings The Saturday Outlook: Arike Ogunbowale’s "for sure" status for the opener in Indianapolis is the definitive takeaway. After a 2-0 preseason without her, the Wings reintegrate their cornerstone against a Fever backcourt now featuring the Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston tandem....

DHJ Quick Take: The State of the Roster The Full Core Debut: For the first time in camp, Jose Fernandez saw his projected "identity" on the floor with Awak Kuier and Arike Ogunbowale fully participating. The Injury Cloud: The primary concern is now Aziaha James, who went down during Tuesday's...