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Kahleah Copper the new face of the Phoenix Mercury

Originally posted on Burn City Sports | By Reyna Stanley | Last updated Apr 13, 2025 11:13 PM ET

PHOENIX — For the first time in two decades, the Phoenix Mercury are entering a season without Diana Taurasi. And while her absence marks the end of the most iconic careers in WNBA history, the future is already here — and her name is Kahleah Copper.

In many ways, the transition feels natural. Taurasi, who retired this spring after 20 seasons with the Mercury, was not just the face of Phoenix basketball — she was Mercury basketball. The five-time Olympic gold medalist and league all-time scoring leader defined an era. But eras evolve, and franchises grow.

Now it’s Copper’s team.

Traded to the Mercury in February 2024 , Copper has a full season to begin carving out her own place in the Valley. Now, in 2025, with Taurasi retired and Brittney Griner and Natasha Cloud no longer with the franchise, Copper enters the season as the undisputed face of the Mercury.

She’s not trying to replace Taurasi — no one could. But Copper brings her own championship resume, Finals MVP hardware, and an intensity that has quickly earned the respect of teammates and fans alike. Her fearless scoring and leadership have become the foundation of Phoenix’s post-Taurasi identity.

And she’s not alone. This offseason, the Mercury added elite playmaker Alyssa Thomas, former All-Star Satou Sabally, dominant post Kalani Brown, and Turkish guard Sevgi Uzun.. It’s a roster that reflects a new direction — one built on grit, versatility, and shared ambition.

The Mercury are no longer clinging to the past. They’re building something new. And at the center of the rebuild is Copper, who seems ready for the challenge of leading a team with big expectations and fresh identity.

Taurasi’s legacy will always loom large in Phoenix. But the torch has been passed. And with Copper guiding the way, Mercury basketball has a bold new face — and a future that is anything but uncertain.

This article first appeared on Burn City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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