Sheppard embraces culture shock in new role
Rookie guard Aisha Sheppard (4) has spent this season absorbing as much as she can, while she bides her time. Photo courtesy Las Vegas Aces
By W.G. Ramirez
LAS VEGAS — With a lead well in hand in Game 1 of the opening round of the WNBA Playoffs, Las Vegas Aces guard Aisha Sheppard heard her name called with 1:17 left in the contest.
With Las Vegas leading by 34 after three quarters in Game 2, she was the only Ace who hadn’t played yet. At the 9:08 mark of the fourth, Sheppard checked in.
It’s taken time, but the former star from Virginia Tech has become used to it.
It’s been Sheppard's maturation process that has been just as impressive as the jump shot that helped land her in the 23rd slot of the 2022 WNBA Draft.
"She's taking notes whether she's playing zero minutes, or 15, or whatever it is," Aces coach Becky Hammon said. "And she's been like that the whole time. Her approach, her professionalism, and her way as a teammate, she's an amazing person."
In 23 regular-season games, she averaged 7.6 minutes and 1.5 points per game.
A bit of a culture shock for someone who averaged 11.9 points, 1.9 assists and 2.5 rebounds in a little more than 28 minutes per game at Virginia Tech.
"It's completely different, it's out of my norm, but I've gotten used to understanding that that's my way of helping my team," Sheppard said. "If I don't give them energy, then I'm not doing my job and we're only as good as our weakest link. And I feel like I'm not playing for a reason because I'm not ready. Not to say that I'm weak and I can't play, but that's just not my job right now. So I'm here to serve my teammates and that's what I'm going to do."
MENTALLY SOUND
Sheppard, whose career high minutes were 20:27 on May 23 against Los Angeles, admits being a professional basketball player as a rookie on a stacked team takes not only talent and physical strength, but a mental tenacity that's allowed her to stay focused while absorbing whatever she can.
"I've been working on my mental for a long time, a long time," Sheppard said. "Obviously playing at Virginia Tech, it's not easy to play in the ACC, that definitely prepared me; my coach helped prepare me. But life helped prepare me through the game. I did a lot of soul searching before I came here.
“I turned off my social media during the whole training camp. I was just so locked into controlling what I can control. I wanted to ask questions. I wanted to be a great teammate and I wanted to show my teammates and my coaching staff that I belong here, and they were able to see that from jump."
One of the biggest dilemmas a rookie can face is falling prey to saying and/or acting in a manner they believe veterans want them to, rather than staying true to who they are, and simply being themselves.
Sheppard has had no issue whatsoever, especially with confidence in her capabilities on the court.
"I knew that one of the things that the coaching staff liked about me was my jump shot," said Sheppard, who established a career-high six points twice this season. "And I knew that that's something that I could capitalize on, and then everything else would come after it. So that was definitely my stronghold during training camp. I knew what I was here to do, and that's exactly what I did."
STUDENT AND TEACHER
Her limited time in games hasn't taken away from what she's learning, especially while listening to a 10-year veteran defensive guard who has spent most of her career coming off the bench, putting the clamps on opponents, and firing from long-range - everything Sheppard is capable of as her game continues to grow.
"Even though she's not playing much, she's always in the moment, she's not turning inward," Riquana Williams said. "Coming in this league, especially being on a stacked team, it's rough. But she hasn't mentally dropped off. She stays engaged, she still comes in and works hard, even though it's tough."
Williams added that the loyalty and family mindset Sheppard brings from her hometown of Alexandria, Virginia, has allowed her to trust her teammates and form bonds with teammates she can consider family, outside of her own.
Which is why Sheppard said she's felt comfortable in turning to Williams during games to ask questions, or in the locker room where they sit next to one another, acting as a sponge while watching what is going down as one of the greatest starting lineups in recent history.
"She personally told me that she sees herself in me, so I mean that's always a great compliment, especially somebody like Riquana, who they call the 'microwave,'" Sheppard said. "I mean, things that she's done I dream about doing. I'm always asking her questions just about random things or even on the court, what she sees and how I can get better. And defensively she's a monster as well. So that's also something that I'm learning from her."
Both Hammon and All-Star MVP guard Kelsey Plum said even though Sheppard may be a rookie on paper, her professional approach is what's made her transition from a star player to one of the last off the bench easier.
"I think that she's handled it tremendously," Plum said. "She's a hard worker and I feel like she's got what it takes to be in this league. So hopefully she continues to soak it in. It's a great experience for a rookie to have. Because you want to be around good culture, and I think that she's bought into what we're doing. So, it's been great to have her."
Added Hammon, who wasn't short of being appreciative of the smile Sheppard always wears, "I have appreciated her professionalism, her personhood, who she is…
“…and then that 3-point shot sealed the deal for her. I was like, 'I'm not I am not letting her go, we're keeping her.'"
Thus, whether it's one minute or 20 minutes of playing time, Sheppard knows it's all worth it.
