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Wings' Jessica Shepard makes Most Improved Player closing argument with one last triple-double
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- Wings' Jessica Shepard makes Most Improved Player closing argument with one last triple-double
Wings' Jessica Shepard makes Most Improved Player closing argument with one last triple-double originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Perhaps the most intense awards race in the WNBA this year is the one for Most Improved Player.
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Dallas Wings forward Jessica Shepard has been at the forefront of these discussions all season, but she has strong competition from players like Washington's Shakira Austin and Portland's Carla Leite .
However, Shepard on Thursday was able to make one last closing argument as the Wings ended the regular season with a win over the Seattle Storm .
MORE: Shakira Austin's Most Improved Player case is about more than her scoring jump
Shepard's argument is convincing. In a 103-91 victory over the Storm in Seattle, Shepard -- a first-time All-Star this season -- recorded her sixth triple-double of the season, accruing 20 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds as Dallas clinched the No.7 seed in the WNBA playoffs.
Shepard's arrival in Dallas as a free agent has transformed the Wings into a top-five offense. Shepard came close to doubling her scoring output, averaging a career-best 14.5 points per game. She is one of the best passing bigs in the WNBA and finally has had the platform to prove it after spending multiple seasons in a reserve role with the Minnesota Lynx .
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In addition, only Angel Reese has been a more proficient rebounder than Shepard, whose 11.1 rebounds per game ranks second in the WNBA. Her 467 total rebounds shattered the 21-year-old franchise record, set by Cheryl Ford in 2006 -- when the Wings were known as the Detroit Shock.
Though her individual defense is roughly average, Shepard's influence over the Wings cannot be understated. Her partnership with young superstar Paige Bueckers is a big reason why Dallas is returning to the playoffs with a franchise-record 27 wins in tow -- and it might sway voters when they choose the Most Improved Player of the 2026 season.
