Mercury’s Copper reflects on career year, wants expansion team in hometown Philly

A strong argument can be made that without Kahleah Copper, the Phoenix Mercury might’ve missed the WNBA playoffs for the second straight year.

The Mercury finished 19-21 this regular season and were never more than two games above the .500 mark. The team dealt with a barrage of injuries, including their top big, Brittney Griner, who missed the team’s first 10 games from a toe fracture.

Phoenix was the No. 7 seed swept in the first round by the No. 2 Minnesota Lynx. Copper finished as the league’s third-best scorer, with a career-best 21.1 points per game. Her 37 games played was second among starters behind point guard Natasha Cloud’s 38.

Copper was selected to the Associated Press All-WNBA Second Team, the vaunted Team USA, and won a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, all for the first time in her career.

Copper was somewhat inconsistent after the Olympic break, which many critics cited as fatigue from her usage combined from playing with the Mercury, Team USA, and during the Phoenix All-Star Game in July.

“This was a tough season with it being an Olympic year. It was a lot mentally, physically,” Copper said, during the Mercury’s end-of-season media availability on Thursday. “I think with some people having the time off, I know that was really helpful, but as a kid it’s something that you work for and that you want, and for me I think it was the ultimate goal. It’s whatever it takes at this point.”

Copper spent the previous seven of her nine-year WNBA career in the Windy City, and was a rising star when she earned the 2021 WNBA Finals MVP after Chicago beat Phoenix for the franchise’s first title. She came to Phoenix during the last offseason in a trade for their 2024 No. 3 overall draft pick. Copper liked the goals the franchise had laid out and the teammates she’d be joining, including returning veterans Griner, Diana Taurasi, and Sophie Cunningham. Two Mercury starters Bec Allen and Cloud came to Phoenix in a trade with Connecticut and in free agency, respectively.

“I came into an organization that was really for pushing the agenda really for moving women’s sports,” Copper said about the Mercury. “Really for quality for providing and putting the players first. I think that I came here because I wanted more at this point in my career and everything that it is that I wanted and needed, and I’m excited for the offseason.”

If Taurasi decides to retire in the coming days or weeks, having Copper gives the Mercury and their X-Factor fan base much optimism.

“Grateful that I was able to experience her, grateful I was able to learn from her,” Copper said of her season playing alongside Taurasi. Copper added that Taurasi is “selfless” and a “dog.”

Copper and Cloud have adjusted to loving their life in Phoenix, but they proudly represent their native Philadelphia.

During starting lineups in the Mercury’s home games this season, the Footprint Center’s announcer introduced her as “from north Philly,” not from her alma mater Rutgers.

“I think that so much of the pride that I have in my city is because of how I was raised, and so much of that is me as a person and as a player,” Copper said. “So it’s a perfect representation and intro to who I am. To hear that every game day, it still kind of gives me chills.”

Philadelphia is nicknamed The City of Brotherly Love, but its mayor Cherelle Parker is vying to add Sisterly Love to the WNBA’s expansion plan adding four more teams by the 2028 season. On Wednesday, Parker revealed her administration’s plan in a public meeting to have a new arena for the the 76ers, and the team has proposed a bid to bring a WNBA team there.

The league has already approved Toronto and the Golden State Valkyries in San Francisco to begin play next season. Portland, Oregon will have a team return to their city and play in 2026.

“That would be great. I think the city is full of love for women’s sports and so many greats have come out of that city, just hoopers,” Copper said. “So if we could bring a W team to my city, that would be lovely.”

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kahleah Copper reflects on Phoenix Mercury’s playoff season