Dallas Wings forward Jessica Shepard has been named the WNBA's Most Improved Player for the 2026 season, edging Washington Mystics center Shakira Austin in a close vote after leading the league with six triple-doubles.
Shepard, 30, received 29 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Austin earned 25 votes, while Portland Fire guard Carla Leite was a distant third with 11. Toronto's Marina Mabrey, Seattle's Dominique Malonga and Los Angeles' Rae Burrell also received votes.
Breakout season after leaving Minnesota
After five seasons with the Minnesota Lynx, Shepard signed with the Wings as an unrestricted free agent in April. She had never averaged more than 8.1 points, 5.4 rebounds or 3.5 assists per game with Minnesota; in Dallas she produced 14.5 points, 11.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists while helping the franchise to its highest winning percentage (.614) since the Detroit Shock won the 2008 championship.
Shepard and Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese, who averaged 16.4 points and 12.1 rebounds, were the only players in the league to average a double-double this season.
A season of milestones
Shepard started 42 games and ranked second in the league in rebounds, fifth in field-goal accuracy at 57.5 percent and 11th in assists. Her six triple-doubles tied for the second-most in a season in WNBA history, and her 25 double-doubles were the fourth-most in a single campaign. Reese set a single-season WNBA record with 521 rebounds in 2026, with Shepard's 467 the second-most.
A first-time WNBA All-Star, Shepard was voted a starter for the game. In her fifth season with Washington, Austin, 26, posted career bests of 17.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.2 blocks and a .315 three-point percentage. Both players led their teams to playoff berths after two-year absences.
Sources: Jessica Shepard wins Most Improved Player award — Reuters
Shepard, 30, received 29 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Austin earned 25 votes, while Portland Fire guard Carla Leite was a distant third with 11. Toronto's Marina Mabrey, Seattle's Dominique Malonga and Los Angeles' Rae Burrell also received votes.
Breakout season after leaving Minnesota
After five seasons with the Minnesota Lynx, Shepard signed with the Wings as an unrestricted free agent in April. She had never averaged more than 8.1 points, 5.4 rebounds or 3.5 assists per game with Minnesota; in Dallas she produced 14.5 points, 11.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists while helping the franchise to its highest winning percentage (.614) since the Detroit Shock won the 2008 championship.
Shepard and Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese, who averaged 16.4 points and 12.1 rebounds, were the only players in the league to average a double-double this season.
A season of milestones
Shepard started 42 games and ranked second in the league in rebounds, fifth in field-goal accuracy at 57.5 percent and 11th in assists. Her six triple-doubles tied for the second-most in a season in WNBA history, and her 25 double-doubles were the fourth-most in a single campaign. Reese set a single-season WNBA record with 521 rebounds in 2026, with Shepard's 467 the second-most.
A first-time WNBA All-Star, Shepard was voted a starter for the game. In her fifth season with Washington, Austin, 26, posted career bests of 17.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.2 blocks and a .315 three-point percentage. Both players led their teams to playoff berths after two-year absences.
Sources: Jessica Shepard wins Most Improved Player award — Reuters
