Jessica Shepard joins 2026 Kia WNBA Shooting Stars
Dallas Wings forward Jessica Shepard will compete in the 2026 Kia WNBA Shooting Stars Contest, pairing with Deanna "Tweety" Nolan on a Dallas/Detroit squad. The All-Star skills event is Friday at Wintrust Arena, with four franchise-linked teams battling in timed shooting rounds before a final.
The WNBA announced the field on Wednesday, placing Jessica Shepard among current stars, league legends, and Nike EYBL standouts for All-Star weekend. For Wings fans following celebrity breaking news, the nod puts Shepard on a franchise-legacy team that ties Dallas to the Detroit Shock.
Key Takeaways
- Jessica Shepard will represent Dallas/Detroit with WNBA legend Deanna Nolan.
- Four teams link current players with former stars from the same organization.
- Elena Delle Donne, Lauren Jackson, and Flau'jae Johnson headline rival squads.
- The contest uses two timed rounds; the top two teams advance to a final.
- Shooting Stars is set for Friday at 8 p.m. ET at Wintrust Arena.
Who is competing alongside Jessica Shepard?
According to the WNBA's official announcement, Shepard teams with Deanna "Tweety" Nolan. Bleacher Report notes their pairing celebrates the shared history of the Dallas Wings and Detroit Shock.
The other three squads also pair current and former players from one franchise. Elena Delle Donne and Shakira Austin represent the Washington Mystics. Lauren Jackson and Flau'jae Johnson represent the Seattle Storm. Rebekkah Brunson and Courtney Williams represent the Minnesota Lynx.
Each team also includes a Nike EYBL high school standout. Jezelle Banks, Ryan Carter, Tatianna Griffin, and Morghan Reckley were selected to compete, according to Bleacher Report.
How does the 2026 Shooting Stars contest work?
The format is a two-round shootout. Teams get 70 seconds to score as many points as possible from seven different spots on the floor. The two highest first-round scores move on to the championship round.
That structure rewards accuracy and pace on an All-Star skills night built around star power and franchise pride. Shepard's Dallas/Detroit group will need both to keep pace with stacked Mystics, Storm, and Lynx units.
When and where will Jessica Shepard take the court?
The Kia WNBA Shooting Stars Contest is part of the league's upcoming All-Star festivities. It is scheduled for Friday at 8 p.m. ET at Wintrust Arena.
For Shepard, a 2026 WNBA All-Star with the Wings, the appearance adds another weekend stage after being named among the current players in the field. Fans watching celebrity sports headlines will get a clear look at how the Wings forward stacks up in a high-pressure timed shootout.
With legends such as Delle Donne and Jackson in the mix, and rising names like Flau'jae Johnson also entered, Shepard's selection underscores both her present role with Dallas and the league's push to connect eras on All-Star weekend.