Who doesn’t love Coach Carter? Jessica Shepard certainly does, as it’s her favorite movie, a fitting choice for an elite WNBA player. And what an incredibly loyal player she’s been for the Lynx throughout her time in the league. Despite limited minutes early in her career and missing an entire season due to an ACL injury, she never wavered. The Lynx gave her valuable support during her recovery, and she was back next season to continue balling for them. Now, Shepard has steadily carved out a vital role for Cheryl Reeve’s squad, averaging 20 minutes per game this season. Let’s take a closer look at Shepard’s journey and what drives her beyond the court.

Where is Jessica Shepard from, and what is her nationality?

Jessica Shepard was born on September 11, 1996, to Mark and Kim Shepard and grew up in Fremont, Nebraska. In June 2024, Shepard became a dual citizen of Slovenia, earning eligibility to play for the Slovenian national team, making her American–Slovenian. She was naturalized by the Slovenian Basketball Federation in order to bring her to their international team.

Shepard won a state title while attending Lincoln Southeast High School in 2013 and finished her high school career at Fremont. Shepard began her college career at Nebraska, playing there for two seasons before transferring to Notre Dame to complete her career. In her time in Nebraska, she averaged around 18.5 points and 9.2 rebounds in her two years. She finished fourth in Nebraska school history with 2,227 career points, despite missing a majority of her senior season. She also holds the two highest single-season totals by a Class A player in state history, with 780 points in 2014 and 664 points in 2013

After which she moved to Notre Dame, where her scoring average dropped a little to around 15.6 points and 9.2 rebounds over two years. Shepard received loads of praise during her college years. “Jess is indispensable to what we do,” Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw once said. “She fits perfectly into our system. She is a great facilitator. She probably wants to be a point guard.” Shepard has continued to be an effective forward, but her hidden point guard potential could come up in the future. In her senior season, she grabbed 10.1 rebounds per game, effectively averaging a double-double, leading to being drafted 16th overall by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2019 WNBA draft.

What is Jessica Shepard’s ethnicity?

Is Jessica Shepard Christian? 

Yes, Jessica Shepard is a devoted Christian, and her faith guides her through life. Her Instagram bio reads, “Philippians 4:13”, along with a cross emoji, which speaks to her religious beliefs. Shepard has also shared deeply spiritual moments on social media, including a visit to Vatican City. During that visit, she captioned a photo with a powerful verse from the Book of Mark: “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man, this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.’”

Jessica Shepard continues to grow in significance within the WNBA, making her presence felt more with each passing season. This year, she is averaging 7.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists this season so far. These solid numbers highlight her all-around impact. Her defensive presence has been a key factor in the Minnesota Lynx’s strong performance so far, proving she has become an indispensable part of the team’s success.