Overview
- The WNBA announced Wednesday that Jessica Shepard won Most Improved Player in a close media vote, receiving 29 votes to Shakira Austin’s 25 and Carla Leite’s 11.
- Shepard produced career highs for the Dallas Wings, averaging 14.5 points, 11.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists and leading the league with six triple-doubles.
- Her leap followed a free-agent move from the Minnesota Lynx to Dallas in April, where she became a full-time starter and earned her first All-Star selection.
- The award lands as the Wings trail 0-1 in a best-of-three first-round series after Shepard was scoreless and 0-for-7 in Game 1, a performance that has intensified pressure on her and the team.
- The tight vote highlights multiple legitimate candidates for the honor and underscores how postseason timing of awards can quickly test whether a regular-season breakout will hold up under playoff pressure.