But the Wings, now 4–3 and entering a contest against A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday at College Park Center, have also leaned on the strength of forward Jessica Shepard.
Shepard, averaging a double-double and nearly a triple-double, recorded 10 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in Dallas’ 91-76 win over New York on Sunday.
“I think Jess is one of the most versatile posts in the game,” All-Star guard Arike Ogunbowale said of Shepard after the win over the Liberty. “… She’s really a glue piece for this team that helps everything come together.”
She ranks third in the league in rebounds, seventh in assists and is shooting 55.7% from the field.
“I’ve been in a lot of systems,” Shepard said after practice on SMU’s campus Tuesday. “Every six months, I’m playing with a different team. So you just find a way to adapt yourself.
“I’m someone who likes to win, so [I’m] just doing whatever the team needs each game to win. And I know that’s different in every game.”
While Shepard has no issue adjusting to a new system, the Wings did provide some level of familiarity.
Shepard played alongside Ogunbowale at Notre Dame, where they made back-to-back trips to the national championship and won the NCAA title in 2018.
“It’s been great. Obviously the success we were able to have together at Notre Dame and being together at the professional level has been a lot of fun and it’s like we just picked up where we left off,” Shepard said.
Shepard, drafted by the Lynx 16th overall in 2019, averaged 8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists over 40 games with Minnesota in 2025. Playing behind Napheesa Collier, a frontrunner in the 2025 MVP race, Shepard shot a WNBA-best 63.8% from the floor.
She’s spent recent offseasons playing overseas in Italy and Greece, where she has been a No. 1 option on her teams.
“My role has been different in every system I’ve played in,” Shepard said. “When I go [play] over in Europe, I’m more of like the go-to player. When I’ve been in the [WNBA], I’ve been someone who needs to come in and steadily do your job.”
She’s been a starter for the Wings this year and has helped Dallas climb the WNBA ranks after finishing at the bottom of the league in 2025. The club ranks fourth in the Western Conference and sixth overall in the 15-team league while averaging 88 points per game.