ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Wings will be without Jessica Shepard and Azzi Fudd for Wednesday night’s game against the Toronto Tempo. Shepard is out with a right ankle injury, while Fudd is out with a right knee injury.
Both appeared on Tuesday’s game status report, with Shepard listed as out and Fudd questionable. Dallas downgraded Fudd to out Wednesday.
Wings coach José Fernández acknowledged before the game that losing both changes what Dallas can do on each end.
“Well, of course it changes the dynamic, with Azzi defending and stretching the floor and her expanding her shooting ability, right, and also creating off the bounce,” Fernández said. “And Jess being an interior presence and doing the things that she does offensively.”
“But I’m encouraged on how we played on the offensive end at Minnesota,” Fernández continued. “So we’ve got to really lock in defensively today.”
Shepard was hurt Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis. She left the Wings’ 103-90 loss to the Minnesota Lynx after 5 minutes and did not return. Wednesday marks the first game Shepard will miss this season. She has started all 33 games for Dallas and is averaging 32.2 minutes, 14.2 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 5.2 assists.
Through games of Aug. 10, Shepard ranked second in the WNBA in rebounds per game. Her 20 double-doubles also ranked second, and she ranked fourth in field goal percentage at 58.6%. Shepard signed a multi-year contract with Dallas in April after spending her entire WNBA career with Minnesota. She was named an All-Star for the first time in July.
Azzi Fudd Out For Third Straight Game
Wednesday is Fudd’s third consecutive absence and her fourth of the season.
Fudd went through warmups at American Airlines Center on Friday, felt soreness in her right knee, and was held out of the 94-76 loss to the Golden State Valkyries. Dallas listed her as questionable Saturday before ruling her out for Sunday’s game at Minnesota. Fudd was a full participant in Tuesday’s practice and took part in the 5-on-5 portion open to media, Drake Keeler reported.
Fernández said Fudd is now in the team’s return-to-play process.
“I think right now we’re in a return-to-play protocol,” Fernández said. “We have an incredible collaboration with, you know, not only the staff, the front office, our data scientists, our strength and conditioning, our sports medicine.”
“So the most important thing is her health and her return to play and her longevity,” Fernández continued.
Before Friday, Fudd had played 30 consecutive games. Her only other absence came May 12, when she missed the home opener against the Atlanta Dream with a knee injury. Dallas lost all three games Fudd missed. Atlanta won the home opener 77-72, Golden State won by 18 on Aug. 7, and Minnesota won by 13 on Sunday.
Fudd, the first overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, has played 30 games. She is averaging 13.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists while shooting 45.6% from the field and 39.7% from three. Her 31.7 minutes per game are second on the roster behind Paige Bueckers.
Fudd was averaging 1.7 steals through Aug. 10, fifth in the WNBA and the best mark among rookies. Fernández pointed to her defense when discussing what Dallas will miss.
“Yeah, again, for us, I think everybody knows what she’s meant for us on the defensive end of the floor and her ability to defend,” Fernández said. “For the most part, take the other team’s best perimeter player out of things.”
“And not only that, her deflections and blocks and steals are big, because she makes a big impact on that end of the floor,” Fernández continued. “Now, again, she’s also getting great coverage on the offensive end as well.”
Alysha Clark Upgraded To Available
Alysha Clark was upgraded to available Wednesday after initially being listed as questionable with a back injury. Clark missed Friday’s game against Golden State and Sunday’s game at Minnesota.
Costanza Verona remains unavailable after Dallas temporarily suspended her contract Saturday. She is playing for Italy at the 2026 FIBA World Cup.
Dallas will have to cover Shepard’s minutes inside. Li Yueru played after Shepard left Sunday’s game and is averaging 3.4 points and 2.8 rebounds in 10.7 minutes through 25 games. Alanna Smith had 11 points and 8 rebounds Sunday in Minneapolis. She has played 25 games and started 11. Awak Kuier has appeared in 30 games, averaging 5.3 points and 3.0 rebounds.
Fernández also mentioned Maddy Siegrist and Clark among the players who could see frontcourt minutes.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for Alanna and Awak and Maddy and AC and Li,” Fernández said.
Dallas also received a boost from Aziaha James on Sunday. James scored a season-high 19 points off the bench with 6 rebounds and 2 assists in 15 minutes on 7-of-10 shooting. Odyssey Sims added 17 points in Minneapolis.
Fernández expects James to have more chances to attack with Dallas short-handed.
“Yeah, I think her in the open floor will be needed,” Fernández said. “And in the half court, getting to the paint, getting to the rim. So attacking off the bounce, she’ll have a lot of those opportunities today.”
Fernández also pointed to James’ work behind the scenes after she knocked down her first 3-pointer during Sunday’s performance.
“Yeah, I think it’s not that she’s not putting in the work with her position coaches and player development,” Fernández said. “It was great to see her first three go in, because that’s where she’s been struggling this year.”
“But her continued commitment to embracing that, right, and investing the time — I think that will continue to help her confidence on the offensive end,” Fernández continued.
Dallas has dropped three straight and five of six. The Wings enter Wednesday at 19-14, sitting eighth in the standings and 5.5 games ahead of ninth-place Portland Fire.
Dallas Wings Focus On Themselves Against Toronto Tempo
Toronto comes in having lost nine straight. The Tempo are allowing 94.1 points per game, the highest mark in the WNBA.
Brittney Sykes is out with a foot injury and has not played since June 19. Maria Conde is questionable with a left calf injury, while Julie Allemand is questionable with a left thigh injury.
Fernández said Toronto’s losing streak is not something Dallas needs to spend time thinking about.
“We don’t need to be looking at anything. We need to be looking at ourselves,” Fernández said. “This is the most important game, just how we attack. You know, after this, it’ll be Indiana. So it’s good to be at home.”
“They’ll be without two starters and so will we, but the two that we’re missing are a big part of what we do offensively,” Fernández continued. “So again, this will be an opportunity for our bench to contribute and play minutes and really continue to gain some confidence as the season finishes here.”
Marina Mabrey had 36 points Monday in Atlanta and made 7 of 13 attempts from three. She leads Toronto at 20.7 points per game. Kiki Rice scored 18 off the bench.
Fernández singled out Mabrey and Aneesah Morrow when discussing what Dallas needs to handle defensively.
“Well, we’ve got to get great shots early, I think. We’ve got to get high-percentage shots early,” Fernández said. “I think we need to attack the rim, attack in transition.”
“And as you know, we’re going to have to do a really, really good job on Mabrey today,” Fernández continued. “And the addition of Morrow concerns me, because she can stretch the floor, she can put it down on the floor, and she’s really, really good on the glass.”
Dallas is 2-0 against Toronto this season. The Wings won 89-76 on July 5 and 108-95 five days later in Montreal, when Bueckers scored 34 points.
Tipoff is at 7 p.m. CT at College Park Center, with USA Network carrying the game nationally and KFAA airing it locally. Dallas visits the Indiana Fever on Friday.
