New WNBA All-Star hit with fine after Flagrant 1 foul involving Brittney Griner originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Jessica Shepard‘s Thursday couldn’t have featured much higher highs and lower lows. Hours after learning she had been voted a WNBA All-Star starter for the first time in her career, the Dallas Wings forward found herself on the wrong side of a league disciplinary decision during Dallas’ 86-83 victory over the Connecticut Sun.
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Shepard was assessed a Flagrant 1 foul after making contact with Brittney Griner, a ruling that will also cost her financially and move her one step closer to a possible suspension.
Jessica Shepard’s All-Star celebration takes unexpected turn
It was supposed to be one of the biggest days of Shepard’s career. The veteran forward was officially announced as a first-time WNBA All-Star starter, capping off a breakout campaign in which she has become one of the league’s most consistent frontcourt players.
Then came Thursday night’s game against Connecticut. While battling Griner for rebounding position early in the third quarter, Shepard’s elbow caught the Sun center in the neck. Officials initially ruled the play a common foul before heading to the monitor for a review.
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After reviewing the contact, the officials upgraded the call to a Flagrant 1. The sequence immediately became one of the night’s biggest talking points despite Dallas holding on for an important 86-83 win.
What punishment will Jessica Shepard receive?
The Flagrant 1 carries an automatic financial penalty under WNBA rules. Because each Flagrant 1 is worth one flagrant point, Shepard will receive a $500 fine from the league.
It’s also her second Flagrant 1 of the season after previously being assessed one during Dallas’ June 13 game against the Portland Fire. That means Shepard now has two flagrant points.
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The WNBA’s discipline policy escalates from there:
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One flagrant point (Flagrant 1): $500 fine
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Two flagrant points from a Flagrant 2: $1,000 fine
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Four total flagrant points: Automatic one-game suspension
Perhaps even more significant, if Shepard reaches three flagrant points and is then assessed a Flagrant 2, league rules call for an automatic two-game suspension. With plenty of basketball still remaining before the playoffs, staying out of further disciplinary trouble will now become another storyline to monitor.
MORE: Angel Reese inches closer to WNBA suspension after latest technical foul vs. Mystics
Paige Bueckers leads Wings to another big win
The disciplinary news overshadowed another impressive Dallas performance. Rookie star Paige Bueckers continued her outstanding season with 25 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, once again leading the Wings’ offense.
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Shepard also made a major impact despite the flagrant foul, finishing with 14 points, six rebounds and a steal while shooting 6-for-10 from the field. Connecticut pushed Dallas throughout the night, but the Wings held on for the three-point victory to improve to 12-8.
For Shepard, however, the game will likely be remembered less for her All-Star-caliber performance and more for the costly collision with Griner. After receiving the biggest individual honor of her WNBA career earlier in the day, the first-time All-Star will now have to balance aggressive interior play with avoiding the additional flagrant points that could eventually result in a suspension.
