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INDIANAPOLIS — Jessica Shepard needed just under 22 minutes to record a triple-double, the fastest in WNBA history, and the Minnesota Lynx beat the Indiana Fever 95-90 on Friday night.
Shepard finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists on 10-for-11 shooting while playing all 40 minutes. She completed her triple in just 21:57 of action. Previously, the record was set by Seattle’s Skylar Diggins on July 28, at 22:51 of play.
Shepard joined Moriah Jefferson as the only Lynx players to record triple-doubles in franchise history.
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Kayla McBride scored a game-high 29 points for Minnesota (29-7), which snapped a two-game losing streak and are 7-3 in their past 10 games . McBride added five assists and was 10-for-19 from the field. Natisha Hiedeman had 17 points in 26 minutes off the bench.
Shepard had a double-double at the half with 11 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. She said she didn’t know she nearly had a triple-double until her teammates told her at halftime.
“Coming off two losses and starting this game off the way that we did, you know, we knew that we needed to come out in the second half better,” Shepard said. “And obviously, if you’re gonna have a triple-double, you have to win the game, so I was proud of our whole team for getting the win today.”
Minnesota took the lead for good off Shepard’s driving layup early in the third quarter and outscored the Fever 32-17 in the period.
With four minutes remaining, Indiana went on a 10-4 run, but its comeback came up short.
Shepard also finished with no turnovers Friday night. McBride credited her not just for the triple-double, but her impact all over the court, especially with star Napheesa Collier missing her eighth consecutive game with a sprained ankle.
“She gave us everything,” McBride said. “You know, the triple-double was cool, but I don’t even think she realized what she was doing, because she was just hooping like she always does. … And obviously with [Collier] out, just really like stepping into that spot and doing her thing, because it’s not easy filling that void.”
Shey Peddy started her Fever career with three straight 3-pointers after joining the team on a seven-day hardship contract Wednesday. She finished with 10 points in 16 minutes.
Kelsey Mitchell scored 27 points to lead Indiana (19-17), and Lexie Hull had a career-high 23.
Caitlin Clark missed her 14th straight game with a right groin injury.
The teams last met in the Commissioner’s Cup championship on July 1, a 74-59 Indiana victory.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
