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Forward Jessica Shepard, coming back from an ACL injury sustained early last season, will not play in the WNBA this year.

She will officially be listed as suspended while staying in the Twin Cities and, when allowed in a summer affected by the coronavirus pandemic, will return to working on her rehab with the team’s training staff.

For Shepard, it had to have been a difficult decision. The team’s second-round selection in the 2019 draft, Shepard was an early surprise, averaging 4.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists of the bench over the first six games. But she tore the ACL in her right knee June 8 and had surgery June 20.

The pandemic and decision to close WNBA facilities essentially robbed Shepard of valuable rehab time with the team’s training staff.

“Because of the pandemic she lost two months,” Reeve said.

The plan is to have Shepard back for 2021.