Jessica Shepard

28-Year-Old CenterC
 Minnesota Lynx  WNBA
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Shepard sat out the 2024 season while fulfilling obligations with her team in Italy, but she re-signed with the Lynx in mid-April and should be back in the WNBA in 2025. She's had a consistent role over her last two seasons with Minnesota, averaging 8.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 26.5 minutes per game while starting in 39 of 57 regular-season appearances during that time. Bridget Carleton took on a starting role in Shepard's absence last year, while the Lynx also acquired Alanna Smith ahead of the 2024 campaign, and she served exclusively as a starter during her first season with the team. It's unclear whether Shepard will have a starting role now that she's back in the WNBA, but she could have increased opportunities after Dorka Juhasz announced that she'd sit out the 2025 season due to personal reasons. If Carleton and Smith retain starting roles, Shepard could be forced to come off the bench and compete with Karlie Samuelson and Diamond Miller for playing time. Read Past Outlooks
Starting Saturday
CMinnesota Lynx
May 10, 2025
Shepard is in the Lynx's starting lineup against the Sky in Saturday's preseason game, Mitchell Hansen of CanisHoopus.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Shepard wasn't able to play in Tuesday's exhibition game against Chicago due to a groin injury, but she's been cleared to play Saturday and will be in Minnesota's starting five. She did not play in the WNBA in 2024 due to contract commitments to Umana Reyer Venezia, but Shepard signed a contract with the Lynx in mid-April for the 2025 season.
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2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
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ESPN
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Average Fantasy Points
Average Fantasy Points are determined when Jessica Shepard was active vs. non-active during the season. Click here to view average fantasy points for a different time period.
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
2022
Shepard appeared in every game during the 2021 and 2022 campaigns, but she missed significant time last year. She missed 12 games between June and July due to an illness and was out for the final eight games of the season due to an ankle injury. When she was on the court, her numbers remained steady from her 2022 marks, as she averaged 8.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 26.9 minutes per game over 21 appearances (17 starts) last year. Shepard announced in late January that she will forgo the 2024 WNBA season in order to fulfill contract obligations with her overseas club in Italy.
Shepard didn't have a fantasy-relevant role during her first two seasons in the league but took a step forward last year. She drew her first career starts to begin the regular season, and while she settled for a bench role over a month-long span between June and July, her overall production was much better than it had been in the past. The 26-year-old averaged 8.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 26.1 minutes per game over 36 appearances (22 starts), and she has a path toward a prominent role in Minnesota's frontcourt now that Sylvia Fowles has retired. That said, Napheesa Collier returns to the fold after missing most of 2022, so Shepard still has some hurdles to clear, but she should still claim a healthy role in 2023.
Shepard played exclusively off the bench in 2021 and averaged just 2.0 points and 3.2 rebounds in 10.5 minutes per game across 22 appearances. While more frontcourt minutes will be available for the Lynx for much of the 2022 campaign with Napheesa Collier slated to miss time due to her pregnancy, Shepard is far from a sure bet to see consistent playing time and would likely need some minutes help to near fantasy consideration in most formats.
More Fantasy News
Not on injury report
CMinnesota Lynx
May 9, 2025
Shepard (groin) isn't on the injury report for Saturday's preseason game against the Sky, Matt Cohen of Winsidr.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Ruled out for Tuesday
CMinnesota Lynx
Groin
May 5, 2025
Shepard (groin) has been ruled out for Tuesday's preseason opener against the Sky, Matt Cohen of Winsidr.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Returning for 2025 season
CMinnesota Lynx
Not Injury Related
April 20, 2025
Shepard signed an undisclosed contract with the Lynx Sunday, Mitchell Hansen of CanisHoopus.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Set to miss 2024 season
CMinnesota Lynx
Not Injury Related
January 31, 2024
Shepard will miss the 2024 WNBA season since she plans to remain in Italy to fulfill contract commitments with her overseas club, Umana Reyer Venezia.
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Season cut short with injuries
CMinnesota Lynx
Ankle
September 25, 2023
Shepard averaged 8.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 0.6 steals in 26.9 minutes over 21 games in the 2023 season.
ANALYSIS
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