STWF Sports | ARLINGTON, Texas | June 2, 2026 — Jessica Shepard’s dominant start with the Dallas Wings has now been recognized at the league level.
The WNBA announced Tuesday that Shepard has been named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played from May 25-31, giving the veteran forward the first Player of the Week honor of her career. She becomes the first Dallas Wings player to earn the award since July 2023.
For the Wings, the recognition reflects the impact Shepard has made in only a short time with the franchise. For Shepard, it marks another milestone in what has quickly become one of the best stretches of her professional career.
The highlight of Shepard’s week came May 28 in Dallas’ 95-87 win over the Las Vegas Aces at College Park Center. Facing the defending WNBA champions, Shepard produced one of the most complete games in league history, finishing with 22 points, a career-high 20 rebounds and 10 assists.
With that performance, Shepard became the first player in WNBA history to record at least 22 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in a single game. It was the type of stat line that not only powered Dallas to a statement win but also placed Shepard in elite historical company.
The triple-double was Shepard’s second of the 2026 season and the third of her WNBA career. Through the early part of the season, she remains the only player in the league to record a triple-double.
Shepard has wasted little time rewriting the Wings’ record book. In just eight games with Dallas, the 6-foot-4 forward set the franchise record for career triple-doubles with two. She now sits tied for third all-time in regular-season triple-doubles in WNBA history with Candace Parker and Caitlin Clark.
Her outing against Las Vegas also extended her double-double streak to five consecutive games, tying for the fourth-longest such streak in Wings history. Shepard became the first WNBA player this season to grab 20 rebounds in a game and only the second player in Wings history to reach that mark in a regular-season contest. Glory Johnson previously pulled down 22 rebounds on July 5, 2016.
Shepard’s value to Dallas has gone far beyond traditional frontcourt production. While her rebounding has given the Wings a steady presence on the glass, her passing has become one of the most important pieces of the team’s offense.
Through nine games, Shepard is averaging career highs in points, rebounds and assists. She enters the next stretch of the season averaging 12.6 points, 11.0 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. As of June 1, she is tied with Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese for the league lead in rebounds per game and is the only player in the WNBA ranked in the top 10 in both rebounds and assists.
That combination has made Shepard one of the most versatile players in the league this season. She can initiate offense from the high post, create second-chance opportunities, rebound in traffic and help Dallas play with better pace and spacing.
Her rise has also been central to the Wings’ strong start. Dallas has opened the season 6-3, the franchise’s best nine-game start since moving to North Texas in 2016. Shepard’s presence has helped balance a roster filled with dynamic guards, including Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale and rookie Azzi Fudd.
For Head Coach Jose Fernandez, Shepard has become a stabilizing force. When Dallas needs a rebound, an outlet pass, a screen, a high-low feed or a playmaking decision under pressure, Shepard has consistently been in the middle of the action.
Her Player of the Week honor comes during a stretch in which Dallas has started to build real momentum. The Wings defeated the Aces during Shepard’s historic week and followed that with another strong performance to remain near the top of the Western Conference standings.
Shepard and the Wings will return to action Friday, June 5, when they travel to Los Angeles to face the Sparks at Crypto.com Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. CT, with national coverage on ION.
For Dallas, the next challenge is carrying its strong start onto the road. For Shepard, the task is continuing a career-best stretch that has already earned her history, franchise records and now her first WNBA Player of the Week award.
