Jessica

Shepard

Shepard moved into the starting lineup for Game 4, filling the massive void left by the injured Napheesa Collier (ankle). As in the regular season when she was allowed to start, Shepard was effective on both ends of the floor Sunday night. Unfortunately for the Lynx, the lack of depth caught up to them, as Phoenix pulled even at the half and made another comeback in the fourth quarter to end the series. Shepard will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and her play when Collier was out likely improved her standing among decision-makers across the WNBA.

The Lynx will play Game 4, which they need to win to keep their season alive, without Napheesa Collier after she injured her left ankle late in Friday’s Game 3 defeat. As was the case when Collier missed time during the regular season, Shepard will move into the starting lineup. In addition to Shepard’s role change, Maria Kliundikova should have more minutes available off the bench.

With its season on the line, Minnesota will play Sunday’s game without its head coach and best player. Collier injured her left ankle during the final minute of Friday’s loss to Phoenix, with head coach Cheryl Reeve being ejected in the immediate aftermath for arguing that her player was fouled. Reeve’s conduct in leaving the court and during her postgame press conference earned the coach a one-game suspension. As for Collier’s replacement, Jessica Shepard was the choice during the regular season, but Maria Kliundikova’s playing time has increased in this series.

The Lynx didn’t shoot their best from three-point range, but McBride carried them with her shot making beyond and inside the arc. She was the most efficient Lynx player who shot 53.3% from the field on her 15 total shots. McBride’s most productive quarters came in the second and the fourth where she scored 8 and 7 of her points, respectively. When the Mercury ran McBride off the three-point line, she was able to get downhill and into the paint both as a driver and moving off the ball on passes from Jessica Shepard and Natisha Hiedeman.

Shepard logged 23 minutes off Minnesota’s bench and secured her 10th double-double of the season. The double-double was the second against the Valkyries this season, which came less than one week within one another. The veteran forward has provided a huge boost to the Lynx’s bench in her fifth season with the team, and she’s been especially productive down the stretch of the season. She’ll serve as a steady frontcourt reserve in the playoffs, beginning on Sunday in Game 1 of the Lynx-Valkyries first-round matchup.

With Napheesa Collier (rest) getting Tuesday night off, Shepard made her 12th start of the season. As in most of her prior 11 starts, the Lynx forward had another productive evening. Shepard shot 80 percent from the field and was also productive in the rebound, assist and steals categories. In her first 11 starts, Shepard averaged 11.8 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting 67.1 percent from the field, so Tuesday’s performance was expected. Minnesota is locked into the one seed for the playoffs regardless of what happens in Thursday’s regular-season finale against Golden State, so another start could be in the cards for Shepard.

The Lynx will be without star forward Napheesa Collier on Tuesday, as she is getting the night off. She’s been replaced in the starting lineup by Shepard, who has been consistently productive when allowed to play extended minutes. With Minnesota locked into the 1-seed for the playoffs, they may look to give their starters additional time on the bench during the final two games of the regular season.

The Lynx have been locked into the 1-seed for quite some time now, so it makes sense to give Collier a night off before the postseason. Jessica Shepard is the player most likely to move into the starting lineup, and she’s flourished at times when shifted into that role.

Shepard started her 11th game of the season and didn’t disappoint. As she filled in for Alanna Smith (rest) and did her usual work on the glass while utilizing efficient shooting to collect her ninth double-double of the season. The veteran forward finished as one of the Lynx’s leaders in assists, while also leaving her mark on the defensive end. Shepard will likely return to the bench upon Smith’s return to the lineup, but she’ll still play a key role for Minnesota over the final couple of games of the regular season and into the postseason.

Without Alanna Smith (rest) on Saturday, Shepard will earn her 11th start of the season for the Lynx. The fifth-year forward will provide Minnesota’s opening lineup with rebounding, playmaking, and interior scoring — she’s shooting a career-high 63.0 percent from the field, while her eight double-doubles on the season are also a career best. The Lynx have already clinched the top playoff spot, so their approach down the stretch of the season could differ from what we’ve seen from them throughout the season. Nevertheless, they’ll look to secure their 33rd win of the season on Saturday.