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WNBA Fan Ejected After Mocking Player for Losing Wig During Game
Jun 29, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2) against the Las Vegas Aces in the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

An unexpected timeout was called in the July 26 matchup between the Phoenix Mercury and the Washington Mystics when Phoenix guard Kahleah Copper experienced a mishap midgame that was quickly shared across social media platforms.

Late in the third quarter, with the Mercury on offense, Copper made a sharp move around a teammate's screen to get open. But as she drove toward the perimeter, her wig got stuck on Mystics guard Jade Melbourne in the chaos, slipping off and falling to the floor.

Copper quickly turned around and grabbed the hairpiece and headed towards the locker room as officials paused the game and called a timeout. “Oh no,” the games broadcaster said on the call, reacting live as the moment unfolded. “Oh no, oh no, she’s going to head to the back. Oh no.”

The moment was out of the ordinary and while most in attendance did not make a spectacle of it, one fan apparently mocked the situation. Copper’s teammates had gathered around officials pointing out the offender.

Fan Tossed From Arena For Mocking Kahleah Copper After the Guard Loses Her Wig in the Game

“They made fun of her for the situation on the floor,” the refs and officials can be heard saying to each other and arena security confronted the man and escorted him out. 

This was not the first slip-up Copper had with her hairpiece though. During the 2024 Paris Olympics, Aces star A’ja Wilson was seen helping Copper adjust her wig after a spill she took in a game overseas.

Wilson responded to a tweet shared online calling her ‘“top tier” for helping her Olympic teammate saying, “We don’t play about that over hereeeee.” Copper––appreciating the support––then reacted to Wilson’s post saying, “A realllll oneeeeeee.”

Despite the interruption in Sunday’s game, Copper returned to the court composed and locked in. She helped the Mercury extend their lead to double digits by the end of the third quarter. Phoenix went on to close out the game with an 88–72 win.

This article first appeared on Women's Fastbreak on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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