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Wings Things: Jessica Shepard named WNBA Most Improved Player

Dallas Wings forward Jessica Shepard has officially secured the 2026 WNBA Most Improved Player award during her first campaign with the franchise and her sixth season in the league. She captured 29 first-place votes to edge out runner-up Shakira Austin, who received 25.

Shepard achieved this milestone after producing career-high averages of 14.5 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists across 42 starts, helping guide Dallas into the postseason as the seventh seed. She notably joined Angel Reese as the only athletes to register a double-double average this year, while also leading the competition with six triple-doubles.

Earlier in the schedule, she became just the second individual in league history to record at least 20 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists in a single contest during a victory against Las Vegas. The announcement arrived just prior to a postseason matchup against Golden State, where Shepard shared the court with the previous year's winner, Veronica Burton.

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