Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Mercury Suffer Kahleah Copper Injury Blow Before WNBA Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated May 16, 2025 9:56 PM ET

The Phoenix Mercury closed out the 2024 campaign with a 19-21 record, limping into the postseason as the No. 7 seed and bowing out in the first round to the Minnesota Lynx.

Their inconsistency last year prompted a front-office shakeup that saw veteran stalwarts Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner depart during the offseason.

As if that wasn't enough, on Thursday, the Mercury announced that the team will be without two key rotation pieces from a season ago.

Both Kahleah Copper and Natasha Mack will be unavailable for Saturday’s season opener in Seattle, with Copper sidelined by a left-knee issue and Mack dealing with a back problem.

BREAKING NEWS: Phoenix Mercury wing Kahleah Copper (left knee) and forward Natasha Mack (back) are both OUT for Saturday’s season opener against the Seattle Storm.#WNBA #ValleyTogether
— Desert Wave Media (@DesertWaveCo) May 17, 2025

Both Copper and Mack did not participate in the final week of practice, and, barring late-hour miracles, they now won’t suit up at Climate Pledge Arena.

Copper was Mercury’s leading scorer in 2024, averaging 21.1 points per game and earning All-WNBA Second Team honors.

A WNBA champion with the Las Vegas Aces (2021 Finals MVP), Copper has emerged as the de facto leader of a young Phoenix backcourt.

Mack entered the league in 2021 and spent her first season in Chicago before playing overseas for two years and then signing a training-camp deal with Phoenix in January.

In 2024, she carved out a rotational role, averaging 3.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 1.2 bpg in 15.5 minutes over 40 games.

Both Phoenix and Seattle enter Saturday's game as two of the league's favorites to win the 2025 WNBA title, with a projected win total set at 23.5 and 24.5, respectively.

Tip-off is set for 10 p.m. ET at PHX Arena.

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

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