Dallas Wings forward Jessica Shepard wins WNBA Most Improved Player award

Dallas Wings forward Jessica Shepard was named the 2026 WNBA Most Improved Player after a standout campaign in her first season with the franchise. Shepard secured 29 first-place votes to edge out runner-up Shakira Austin of the Washington Mystics. Starting all 42 games, Shepard posted career highs across the board with 14.5 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game, earning her first WNBA All-Star selection while helping Dallas capture the No. 7 playoff seed.

Shepard led the WNBA with six triple-doubles during the season, the second-highest single-season total in league history. She also joined Angel Reese as the only players to average a double-double in 2026. On May 28, she recorded 22 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Las Vegas Aces, becoming only the second player in WNBA history to achieve that statistical benchmark alongside A'ja Wilson.