Mercury excited for Kahleah Copper, Natasha Cloud to help the team rebound after disappointing 2023 season

Teammates are Fired Up

When Mercury Media Day was going on and Cloud was waiting for her turn to speak at the podium, she was heard shouting, laughing and having a good time. From what various players have said about what she brings to the team, they have all mentioned her outgoing vibe.

Even though they can be friendly off the court, when they are in game mode, they turn on whole other gear.

With how Cloud and Copper utilize their playmaking, scoring and defensive skillsets, their Mercury teammates know just how special they can be for the franchise.

“I don’t think we have added two players that change our program as much as Tash and Kah have already,” Taurasi said. “There is not a lot of people that change everything about your team the minute they step into the gym, without even touching the basketball. Her [Cloud’s] energy, her competitive fire, the way she treats people, the way she cares about every single individual on the team. It’s all the things that make you a great player. On the court, she is going to bring this competitive spirit on both ends of the court and raise the level of everyone on the court.

“Kah is just special. At her size in our league, there is not many people that can do what she can do. Obviously we saw that firsthand in the [2021 WNBA] Finals when she won MVP, and we lost to them when she was in Chicago. When there was just a little glimpse of maybe her being able to come to Phoenix, there was no doubt that if we could get her here for now and the next 10 years, Cop is a special, special player.”

Echoing the sentiment from Taurasi, Sophie Cunningham has enjoyed her time with her new teammates and had high praise for both of them as well.

“She’s [Copper] is good, she is so good,” Cunningham said. “She has the jelly in the paint, knows how to move. To have someone who is a prolific scorer, an All-Star, she draws a lot of attention… I am super excited that Kah is here, we have actually gotten really close and we are just going to keep getting closer. I am excited she is here in the Valley and at the end of the day, it is a new era.”

“She [Cloud] is the bee’s knees, Tash is freaking awesome. Her energy, there is no one like Tash. She’s fast, she knows the game, she has actually been a great leader. Just communicating about what she sees on the court and off the court, making sure we are all good. At the end of the day, she just has a great energy.”

With the additions of Copper and Cloud, there is more to come this season in Phoenix.

“I think everyone we have brought in from our new owner [Ishbia], new front office, new coaching staff, new players, it’s a new era,” Cunningham said. “I think you guys will see – I know that we struggled the past couple of years – good things will happen.”

The Mercury will finish their preseason with a matchup against the Los Angeles Sparks tonight at 7 p.m. PT inside Footprint Center.