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Lynx rookie Shepard to miss rest of season; Ogunbowale hurts ankle

By Caissa Casarez

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 29: Jessica Shepard #10 of the Minnesota Lynx looks to pass the ball during the game against the Seattle Storm on May 29, 2019 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 29: Jessica Shepard #10 of the Minnesota Lynx looks to pass the ball during the game against the Seattle Storm on May 29, 2019 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The second-round pick injured her right knee in the fourth quarter of Minnesota’s loss to Los Angeles Saturday.

The Minnesota Lynx received some tough news Sunday to add to an already emotion-filled weekend. The team announced that rookie Jessica Shepard will miss the rest of the season after tearing the ACL in her right knee in the Lynx’s 89-85 loss to Los Angeles.

In the remaining minutes of the game Saturday, Shepard jumped to make a shot and, after being fouled by the Sparks’ Tierra Ruffin-Pratt, landed awkwardly on her right leg. She had to be helped off the floor and court while receiving a standing ovation from the Lynx fans in the crowd.

Shepard underwent an MRI exam on her right knee Sunday morning at the Mayo Clinic in Minneapolis, according to the team. She will have surgery “at a to-be-determined date.”

The second-round draft pick out of Notre Dame served as a key player off the bench for the Lynx, as she averaged nearly five points, six rebounds and four assists in nearly 19 minutes per game.

According to the Star Tribune, this is not the first time Shepard has had knee issues; she tore the ACL in her left knee during her senior year of high school in Fremont, Neb.

The Lynx will look to bounce back from their loss of Shepard – and their loss to the Sparks – when they travel to New York to face the Liberty Wednesday night.

Dallas Wings rookie Arike Ogumbowale showed her support for her former teammate with a special message on her left shoe. The Wings tweeted out this picture ahead of their game against the Mystics.

Ogumbowale wrote “J. Shep,” a bible verse, and drew a shamrock along the shoe. Unfortunately, she too got hurt during her team’s game and missed a chunk of the contest after rolling her ankle.

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