Photo by Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images
Copper is one of the top scorers in the WNBA and a first-time member of the U.S. women’s Olympic basketball team.
SB Nation is introducing each of the 12 members of the US Olympic Women’s Basketball team this week. Here’s what you need to know about Kahleah Copper, the 2021 Finals MVP who’s in the midst of a career year in Phoenix.
Fast Facts
Team: Phoenix Mercury (13-12)
2024 Regular Season Stats: 23.3 points (45% FG), 4.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Position: Guard
Draft Class: 2016, pick #7
All-Star Selections: 4 (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Previous Olympic Appearances: N/A
College: Rutgers University
In 2021, Kahleah Copper led the Sky to a WNBA championship
Early on in Kahleah Copper’s career, it seemed unlikely that she would one day be a Finals MVP. She came off the bench in her first three seasons with the Sky, playing around 15 minutes a night and averaging less than 7 points per game.
She was effective, and a reliable contributor — but didn’t appear to be on the brink of stardom.
That all changed quickly. Copper was elevated to Chicago’s starting lineup in 2020, and immediately capitalized on the opportunity, averaging 14.8 points per game on 49.6% shooting in her first season as a starter. The following season, in 2021, she was named an All-Star for the first time — and subsequently led the Sky to a first-ever title. After averaging 17.7 points on 52% shooting throughout the 2021 postseason, Copper was named Finals MVP.
“I worked so f—— hard,” Copper said after leading the team to a championship, per CBS Sports. “I worked so hard. I worked so hard and my teammates and my coaches believed in me and I just stayed down until it was my turn.”
In a new city, Copper’s become the WNBA’s second-leading scorer
Ahead of the 2023 offseason, Candace Parker and Courtney Vandersloot both left in free agency, laying the groundwork for Kahleah Copper’s eventual departure. But the 2021 championship team officially disbanded when Copper asked for a trade last summer.
The 29-year-old landed in Phoenix, where she now headlines a roster that includes veteran center Brittney Griner and guard Diana Taurasi — both Olympians on the 2024 team.
When the Mercury acquired Copper, it was undeniable that she she’d help the cause — after all, it’s not every day that you can trade for such a prolific scorer and Finals MVP. But, given she was joining such a star-studded roster, it wasn’t immediately clear that Copper would be the primary scoring option in the way that she has.
But she’s found a new home in Phoenix, falling in love with the Mercury franchise and playing the best basketball of her career.
“I said I would never go to the West Coast, I could never go that far from home,” she told Just Women’s Sports at All Star Weekend. “But I didn’t know that this organization was what it was: super professional, really taking care of everything. It’s damn near perfect.”
So far this season, Kahleah Copper is averaging a career-high 23.3 points, the second-most of any WNBA player, behind two-time MVP A’ja Wilson. A 35.6% career three-point shooter, she’s long shown she can score at all three levels — regularly driving to the basket, sinking midranges, and hitting threes.
Copper has been on an absolute heater through the first half of the WNBA season — she’s already scored at least 30 points eight times in 20 games. Her scoring prowess was highlighted by a stretch in May in which she exploded for 38 points against the Dream and followed that up with 37 point showing against the Aces.
At All Star Weekend, Aces guard Kelsey Plum praised Copper for the superb season she’s had thus far.
“I was joking with her the other day,” Plum said, via AZ Central. “I said, ‘God, like, how can anyone guard you? I don’t know what’s going on here.’ You know what I mean?”
“I don’t think anyone can guard her. She’s been an MVP candidate in my book, and she’s been incredible.”
So, while Team USA should have no dearth of scoring options, Copper is poised to provide a boost if one is needed.
