NEW YORK — Jessica Shepard dropped her third triple-double of the 2026 WNBA season when she racked up 22 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and dished out 11 assists in the Dallas Wings' 88-77 win over the New York Liberty.
It was her fourth career triple-double and third with 20+ points, tying her with Sabrina Ionescu and behind Alyssa Thomas. Her 20-point triple-doubles tie Ionescu for most. In her first Dallas season after five years in Minnesota, Shepard is rewriting a record book that rarely featured her.
She casually mentioned it afterward, like she does most things: no big deal.
"I don't really have a favorite," she said when asked to rank her three triple-doubles this season. "I'm just proud of the team for getting the win."
A New Kind of Point Forward
Fernandez's offense emphasizes that a defensive rebound should start, not end, a possession. Shepard is instructed to push the ball, creating cross-matches and turning stops into advantages before Dallas starts its offense.
That is what Fernandez meant when he explained what actually sold Shepard on Dallas during free agency. It was not the money.
"Having the ball in her hands and the freedom to push it after rebounds changes everything," he said. "It's different when your four or five can grab a rebound, start the break, get into inverted pick-and-rolls, flow into three-away actions or initiate split actions. I think she's really enjoying that freedom."
Shepard describes the fit as being driven by the belief that the Wings' coaching staff and her teammates have in her to make decisions with the basketball.
"I think it's the coaches' belief in me and my teammates' belief in me," she said. "They trust me with the ball in my hands, and they do a great job reading whatever action we're in."
Jessica Shepard was pivotal to the @DallasWings' success as they overcame the Liberty ☑️
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 8, 2026
She logged her fourth career triple-double with 22 PTS, 12 REB & 11 AST to move into second all-time on the WNBA's triple-double list! Her efforts helped the Wings secure their third… pic.twitter.com/aE5S2VFJsK
The Paige Bueckers Wrinkle
Early possessions for Dallas usually begin with a dribble handoff between Paige Bueckers and Shepard to start the offense. As opponents adjusted, the Wings adapted by playing her off the ball, Fernandez said after a July 5 win over Toronto.
With veteran wings, they created a package to get Bueckers the ball away from primary duties, including isolations, pick-and-rolls, and off-ball plays. Now, Shepard screens for Bueckers in an inverted pick-and-roll more often.
Toronto had an answer that night, and Fernandez credited them.
"I thought Toronto adjusted well because they overhelped on the inverted screen, allowing us to get it back to P, who made good decisions," he said. "Even when we set it, she ghosted out." The counter was more important than the action itself.
When the first read wasn't available, Dallas moved the ball to the weak side.
"When we got it to the second side, we did a good job," Fernandez said. "We crashed the glass and created opportunities after missed shots because of their rotations."
Shepard senses the chemistry internally. When questioned about a sequence where she used her elbow to help and Bueckers faked a screen before cutting to the basket, she attributed it to their shared basketball background.
"I think Paige and I have a great connection on the court," she said. "I think it's just because we both play basketball the right way, and obviously that makes it really easy to make the reads that I do make. She's a great cutter."
She has been just as direct about what playing alongside Bueckers has done for her own game.
"I've said it before, Paige's confidence and her energy are contagious," Shepard said. "Just being around her, she believes so much in herself, but she also believes so much in her teammates. I think it kind of lifts everyone up. Even when you're having a bad game, she can make you feel like you're having a better game than you probably are."
The Release Valve
Teams that try to blitz Dallas' primary ball-handlers run into a similar problem. Fernandez pointed to it directly after Tuesday's win.
"We made really good decisions against their pick-and-roll coverages when they blitzed," he said. "It's not just the first pass out of the blitz. The next pass is the most important one."
Once Shepard catches on the short roll, she has options: finish through contact, pass to a cutter, kick to a shooter, or drive before help arrives. Throughout Tuesday's game, New York's defense pressured Dallas' guards but turned that pressure into scoring chances rather than forcing turnovers.
Bueckers gains an advantage as Shepard initiates the offense solo, easing Dallas's guard against aggressive defensive pressure. Fernandez helps Bueckers finish possessions after Shepard's actions.
Shepard brings a bit of everything offensively, whether she's initiating the offense and flowing into a handoff or split action, operating out of the post, or screening and playing on the roll. However, Fernandez sees spacing the floor by shooting more 3-pointers as the next step.
"I love her versatility and her court vision. She can do so many different things," he said. "The next step in her development is consistently stretching the floor and shooting the three. If she adds that, it'll be fun to watch her continue to grow."
The numbers back her up: Shepard has attempted eight 3-pointers all season and made none of them.
The Tradeoff
The gaps in her game are intentional. Shepard isn't a typical rim protector; when she plays center, Dallas sacrifices shot-blocking for pace, rebounding, and offensive versatility. Lineup data shows where this tradeoff has succeeded or failed.
Dallas's net rating of +5.1 is fourth in the WNBA, falling between the New York Liberty and top contenders such as the Las Vegas Aces.
Often paired with Awak Kuier, that number increases to +8.8 over 267 minutes. Kuier provides the length and interior defense Smith lacks, especially with Shepard next to her, which is why Kuier has taken over frontcourt minutes Smith was signed for.
Jose Fernandez tells @inthemageors & @OThankKevin that adding Jessica Shepard completely shifts their dynamic, believing her passing and vision make her the perfect piece to elevate the rest of the roster. pic.twitter.com/NTCKPLDY35
— 105.3 The FAN (@1053thefan) July 8, 2026
A Six-Year Wait
Shepard is getting more chances to step up and contribute than ever before. Over five seasons with Minnesota, she averaged 6.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists, mainly coming off the bench behind Napheesa Collier. In 2025, her role expanded, posting averages of 8.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, while shooting 63.8% from the field, earning her third place in the Sixth Woman of the Year voting. Despite this being her most productive season, she did not make the All-Star ballot.
General manager Curt Miller signed her to a two-year, over $2 million contract, praising her as a high-IQ passer for the Wings' young core. Alanna Smith, who started ahead of her in Minnesota and later in Dallas, called her "one of the most underrated players in the league."
Shepard agrees she has talent but lacks opportunities.
"My time in Minnesota had ups and downs and varied roles," Shepard said. "Last season, during stretches when Napheesa was out, I showed more, but it mostly comes down to playing more."
Shepard's impact has occurred despite not having a legitimate training camp opportunity to build chemistry with teammates and learn the coaching staff's schemes. Shepard finished her season in Italy while the Wings were already in preseason competition, having joined the team late, which forced her to adapt quickly to a new system and largely new teammates.
What Comes Next
Shepard will make her first WNBA All-Star appearance on July 25 at the United Center, alongside Bueckers, marking Dallas's first time as starters since 2023. With a 14-8 record and fourth place with 22 games remaining, she states it doesn't feel sudden from her perspective.
"When I came here in the offseason, after talking with the players who were returning, ownership from top to bottom, Curt and the coaching staff, I knew this was the vision," she said. "We also knew it wouldn't happen overnight. We're still working every day to become a better team."
Fernandez is measured about what that vision adds up to right now.
"We've got 22 games left, so we'll see after those 22 games," he said. "I've always believed we can win in Dallas. We have an incredible locker room. Once the regular season ends, then the focus becomes winning a championship. Right now, every game matters, and that's the most important thing."
Shepard's season stats—14.6 points, 11.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists on 58.9% shooting—show her diverse responsibilities for Dallas and her effective execution across nearly all of them.
