Jessica Shepard Named 2026 Kia WNBA Most Improved Player

Shepard received 29 out of 74 votes from a panel of national sportswriters and broadcasters, surpassing Washington Mystics' Shakira Austin, who earned 25 votes, and Portland Fire's Carla Leite, who received 11 votes. Other candidates included Marina Mabrey of Toronto Tempo with four votes, Seattle Storm's Dominique Malonga with three votes, and Rae Burrell of the Los Angeles Sparks with two votes.

In her sixth WNBA season and first with the Wings, Shepard recorded career highs of 14.5 points, 11.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 31.7 minutes per game. This marks a significant increase from her 2025 season with the Minnesota Lynx, where she averaged 8.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 20.9 minutes. Shepard became one of only two players, alongside Angel Reese of the Atlanta Dream, to average a double-double this season. As a starter in all 42 games, she played a crucial role in the Wings securing the No. 7 seed in the WNBA Playoffs.

Shepard ranked second in the league for rebounds per game and fifth in field goal percentage at 57.5%. Her total of 467 rebounds stands as the second-highest single-season total in WNBA history, following Reese's 521 rebounds this season. She also played a significant role in the Wings leading the league with an average of 22.3 assists per game.

She recorded six triple-doubles, a league high and tied for the second most in a single season in WNBA history. This is a remarkable rise from her previous career total of one triple-double. Additionally, her 25 double-doubles this season ranked fourth for single-season totals in WNBA history, up from 10 in 2025. On May 28, she made headlines by achieving a 20-point, 20-rebound, 10-assist game against the Las Vegas Aces, becoming the second player ever to reach this milestone.

Drafted 16th overall by the Lynx in 2019, Shepard spent five seasons with Minnesota before signing with Dallas for the 2026 season. She also marked her first WNBA All-Star selection this year, being voted a starter for the 2026 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game. In recognition of her accomplishment, Shepard will receive $15,000 and a trophy commemorating her achievement.

The complete voting results for the 2026 Kia WNBA Most Improved Player Award are as follows:

Jessica Shepard (Dallas Wings) - 29 votes

Shakira Austin (Washington Mystics) - 25 votes

Carla Leite (Portland Fire) - 11 votes

Marina Mabrey (Toronto Tempo) - 4 votes

Dominique Malonga (Seattle Storm) - 3 votes

Rae Burrell (Los Angeles Sparks) - 2 votes.

Shepard is among the latest recipients in the long history of the Kia WNBA Most Improved Player Award, which has recognized many talented players since its inception.