One of Minnesota’s few bright spots to start this season, the Lynx inked versatile forward Jessica Shepard to a multi-year extension Sunday, the team announced.
In her third year in Minnesota, Shepard has been the Lynx’s best player outside of Sylvia Fowles thus far this season. She’s averaging 10 points, nine rebounds and 5.3 assists. The Notre Dame product gives Minnesota the passing forward around which Cheryl Reeve likes to construct offenses.
“Jess has really gained her footing after a strong overseas season and has made major strides towards her player maturity after enduring a few difficult years of battling an injury,” Reeve said in a statement. “She is a poised competitor who will be an integral part of the Lynx for years to come.”
And, at 25-years-old, Shepard represents one of the few young players Minnesota has actually stuck with and developed in recent years, which is important as the team moves into the post-Fowles era after this season. After she was selected in the second round of the 2019 WNBA draft, Shepard showed enough promise through her first six games that Minnesota stuck with the forward after she suffered a serious knee injury that also caused her to miss the 2020 campaign.
Now, that commitment is paying dividends, and should well into the future.
“Minnesota has been home for the last four years and I’m thankful to Coach Reeve and the organization for the confidence they have had in me as I continue to grow towards my full potential,” Shepard said in a statement. “I am excited to continue as part of the Lynx family and play in front of the best fan base in the league as we pursue competing for championships.”
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