Jessica Shepard delivered a historic performance as Dallas secured a 104-96 victory over Los Angeles, finishing with 22 points, 15 rebounds and five assists. The all-around showing extended a remarkable opening stretch and placed Shepard alongside Alyssa Thomas in the WNBA record book.
What happened
Shepard made an impact across every major area of the game, pairing her 22 points with a game-high level of production on the glass and as a facilitator. Her 15 rebounds and five assists gave Dallas a versatile frontcourt presence in a high-scoring win.
The performance continued Shepard's historic opening stretch. Rather than contributing in only one category, Shepard again combined scoring, rebounding and playmaking in the same outing.
Why it matters
Through the first 10 games of the season, Shepard is averaging at least 10 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Only Thomas had previously reached each of those benchmarks over the same opening span in WNBA history.
That company underscores the range of Shepard's production. Her scoring creates one dimension for Dallas, while her rebounding and passing allow her to influence possessions beyond putting the ball in the basket.
That combination is especially valuable in the frontcourt, where players are often measured primarily by scoring and work on the boards. Shepard's assist average adds another element, giving Dallas production that stretches across several responsibilities.
By the numbers
Shepard is averaging 13.5 points, 11.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists through 10 games. Each figure sits comfortably above the thresholds required for her historic statistical start.
Her performance against Los Angeles also reflected those season-long averages on a larger scale. Shepard exceeded her scoring and rebounding averages with 22 points and 15 boards while adding five assists, helping Dallas reach 104 points in the eight-point victory.
The 15 rebounds were central to another double-digit showing on the glass. Meanwhile, the five assists kept her aligned with the playmaking standard that separates this opening run from more conventional frontcourt production.
What to watch next
The next question is whether Shepard can sustain all three benchmarks as Dallas continues its regular-season schedule. Maintaining double-digit scoring and rebounding while averaging at least five assists would require her broad production to continue over a larger sample.
For now, the first 10 games have established Shepard's place in elite company. Her latest performance gave Dallas a victory and added another defining game to one of the most statistically distinctive starts in WNBA history.