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Fresh off of winning the gold medal with Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Phoenix Mercury star Kahleah Copper is returning to Chicago to face the Sky for the first time since being traded in the offseason.
After being originally drafted by the Washington Mystics in 2016 before being dealt to the Sky the following season, Copper spent seven years (2017-23) in Chicago and quickly became one of the team’s best players. During her stint as a Sky, she averaged 12.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 224 games (135 starts) and was a WNBA All-Star three times in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
At the forefront of helping the Sky win their first championship in franchise history, Copper was the Finals MVP as Chicago went on to beat the Mercury 3-1 in the 2021 WNBA Finals.
May 13, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Chicago Sky guard Kahleah Copper (2) drives to the net against Minnesota Lynx forward Bridget Carleton (6) during the first half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Fast forward to the end of last season, the Sky finished 18-22 and after taking some time to reflect on where she was at in her career, Copper and Chicago worked out a solution to trade her to a contending team before she was dealt to Phoenix.
“It worked out because Chicago really worked with me to try to get me in a good position for myself and for my career,” Copper said during her first Zoom meeting after she was traded.
Returning to the old stomping grounds
While the Mercury are 25 games into the season, they haven’t played the Sky once.
The Mercury are currently 13-12 and the Sky are 10-14, both sitting in playoff spots. Leading their push towards the postseason, Chicago has been led by Chennedy Carter and 2024 first-round draft pick Angel Reese.
Before she went over to France for the Olympics, Copper has been an instant star from the moment she landed in Phoenix. She is the second-highest scorer in the WNBA (23.2 points per game), and has averaged 4.4 assists and 2.6 rebounds in all 25 games. Copper represented the Mercury at the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game in the Valley.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives against Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2) on June 30, 2024, at Footprint Center in Phoenix.
Even though wanting a change of scenery was what she felt was best for her at the time, the Rutgers product still has respect for the team and the city that she proudly represented.
“I’m excited to be back,” Copper said in a media availability on Wednesday. “So many people that I want to see, the fanbase, I am super excited to be back. We got to come here a few days early, so I got to just soak it all in and soak the city in, just being here and enjoying it.”
Having momentum of winning gold, Copper will look to carry it over to the WNBA for the Mercury as they get the season up and going again. With the game on the line vs. France in the Olympic final, the 6-foot-1 forward/guard scored 10 crucial points, including two game-deciding free throws with five seconds left in the game, as Team USA won 67-66.
The Mercury will play the Sky twice this week, with one game on Thursday in Chicago and another on Sunday at home in Phoenix. Before the 2024 WNBA regular season wraps up, the Mercury will head back to Chicago on Sept. 15.
Making memories that will last forever during her time with the Sky, Copper is grateful for what she has done for Chicago and will embrace the fanbase and people who helped her along her journey to where she is today.
Tip-off between the Mercury and Sky begins Thursday at 5 p.m. PT.
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