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Kahleah Copper

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Kahleah Copper (/kəˈliːə/ kə-LEE-ə; born August 28, 1994)[1] is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was drafted with the seventh overall pick by the Washington Mystics in 2016, and was traded to the Chicago Sky the next year.

Kahleah Copper
Copper with the Chicago Sky in 2023
No. 2 – Phoenix Mercury
PositionShooting guard / small forward
LeagueWNBA
Personal information
Born (1994-08-28) August 28, 1994 (age 30)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight165 lb (75 kg)
Career information
High schoolPrep Charter
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Girard College
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
CollegeRutgers (2012–2016)
WNBA draft2016: 1st round, 7th overall pick
Selected by the Washington Mystics
Playing career2016–present
Career history
2016Washington Mystics
2016–2017BC Castors Braine
2017–2023Chicago Sky
2017–2018Arka Gdynia
2018–2019OGM Ormanspor
2019–2020AZS AJP Gorzów Wielkopolski
2020–2021Elitzur Ramla
2021–2022Perfumerias Avenida
2023–2024Çukurova Basketbol
2024–presentPhoenix Mercury
Career highlights and awards
Stats at WNBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Medals
Women’s basketball
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2024 Paris Team
World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2022 Australia

After three years as a bench player with the Sky, she was elevated to a starting role in 2020. She emerged as a star player in 2021, being named a WNBA All-Star for the first time. Copper led the Chicago Sky during the 2021 playoffs, being named WNBA Finals MVP as the team won their first title in franchise history.

Copper won an Olympic Gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.

Early life and playing career

Copper is a native of North Philadelphia.[2] She attended and played for Girard College and the Preparatory Charter High School in Philadelphia.[3][4] As a high school player, she was named to the All-Public League team in Philadelphia, the All-State team in Pennsylvania, and the McDonald's All-American team.[4] She played for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights women's basketball team in college from 2012 to 2016, finishing her college career with the third-most points all time in team history (1,872).[5][4]

Professional career

WNBA

Washington Mystics (2016)

Copper was drafted as the 7th overall pick in the 2016 WNBA draft by the Washington Mystics.[6] She was a bench player in her first season, averaging 16.2 minutes and 6.2 points per game. After the season, she was traded to the Chicago Sky as part of a deal that sent Elena Delle Donne to the Mystics and Stefanie Dolson, Copper, and the 2nd overall pick in the 2017 draft to the Sky.[7][8]

Chicago Sky (2017–2024)

In her first three seasons with the Sky, Copper generally came off the bench and averaged 6.7 to 7.1 points per game.[9] In 2020, she was re-signed by the Sky.[10][11] She was elevated to a starting role in the 2020 season, which was played in a "bubble" due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and led the team in scoring with 14.8 points per game.[12][13][4]

Copper continued into her starting role in the 2021 season, and was named as an All-Star for the first time.[2] She averaged 14.4 points per game in the regular season and led the team in scoring in the postseason with 17.7 points per game. Copper led the Sky to their first championship and was named Finals MVP.[14]

In the offseason, the Sky used their one available "core player" designation for Copper, and subsequently signed her to a two-year contract.[15][16] In the 2022 season, Copper was once again named an All-Star as the Sky returned to the postseason but lost in the semifinals in 5 games.

Phoenix Mercury (2024–present)

On February 6, 2024, Copper was traded to the Phoenix Mercury alongside the rights to Morgan Bertsch in exchange for Michaela Onyenwere, Brianna Turner, the 2024 No. 3 pick, a 2025 second round pick (from CHI), a 2026 first round pick, and the right to swap 2026 second round.[17]

Overseas career

In the 2021–2022 season Copper played for Perfumerias Avenida in the Spanish League and the Euroleague. She was named the MVP of both leagues.[18]

Unrivaled

On July 17, 2024, it was announced that Copper would appear and play in the inaugural season of Unrivaled, a new women’s 3x3 basketball league founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart.[19]

National team career

2022 FIBA World Cup

In September 2022, Copper was named to the USA international team ahead of the 2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup.[20] The team went undefeated in the tournament and won the gold medal.

2024 Summer Olympics

In June 2024, Copper was named to the US women's Olympic team to compete at the 2024 Summer Olympics in France.[21][22] Copper and the United States defeated France 67–66 in the final, earning Copper her first gold medal and the United States’ eighth consecutive gold medal.[23]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 TO  Turnovers per game  FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 Bold  Career best ° League leader
† Denotes seasons in which Copper won a WNBA championship

WNBA

Regular season

Kahleah Copper WNBA Regular Season Statistics[24]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2016 Washington 30 3 16.2 .417 .467 .683 3.1 0.8 0.5 0.1 1.1 6.2
2017 Chicago 34 10 14.3 .465 .294 .830 1.9 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.8 6.7
2018 Chicago 33 2 15.9 .397 .375 .875 2.2 0.6 0.3 0.2 1.0 7.1
2019 Chicago 34 0 14.8 .387 .306 .771 1.9 0.9 0.4 0.1 1.3 6.7
2020 Chicago 22 22 31.3 .496 .344 .737 5.5 2.1 1.0 0.2 2.5 14.9
2021† Chicago 32 32 30.8 .459 .306 .818 4.2 1.8 0.8 0.3 1.9 14.4
2022 Chicago 31 31 28.7 .481 .356 .775 5.7 2.3 0.5 0.0 2.0 15.7
2023 Chicago 38 38 31.2 .448 .404 .770 4.4 2.0 0.9 0.3 2.5 18.7
2024 Phoenix 37 37 32.4 .435 .314 .807 4.5 2.3 0.8 0.1 3.0 21.1
Career 9 years, 3 teams 291 175 23.9 .447 .348 .787 3.6 1.4 0.6 0.1 1.8 12.5
All-Star 4 0 14.3 .514 .308 — 2.0 1.0 0.8 0.0 0.5 10.0

Playoffs

Kahleah Copper WNBA Playoff Statistics
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2019 Chicago 2 0 16.0 .545 .750 1.000 2.0 1.0 1.5 0.0 0.5 9.0
2020 Chicago 1 1 35.0 .500 .500 .250 0.0 4.0 2.0 0.0 2.0 17.0
2021† Chicago 10 10 32.8 .520 .344 .791 5.3 1.9 1.2 0.2 2.0 17.7
2022 Chicago 8 8 30.5 .452 .346 .795 3.8 0.9 1.6 0.4 1.8 16.8
2023 Chicago 2 2 34.5 .406 .455 .750 7.5 1.5 0.5 0.0 3.0 20.0
2024 Phoenix 2 2 29.5 .407 .364 .600 4.5 2.5 1.0 0.0 3.5 14.5
Career 6 years, 2 teams 25 23 30.7 .476 .386 .764 4.4 1.6 1.3 0.2 2.0 16.6

College

Kahleah Copper NCAA Statistics
Year Team GP Points FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2012-13 Rutgers 30 153 40.7% 0.0% 71.7% 3.5 0.5 0.4 0.1 5.1
2013-14 Rutgers 36 580 52.1% 0.0% 71.0% 6.2 1.4 1.1 0.3 16.1
2014-15 Rutgers 33 538 45.9% 0.0% 70.8% 5.2 1.5 1.2 0.2 16.3
2015-16 Rutgers 34 601 49.7% 38.6% 67.5% 8.0 1.7 1.6 0.5 17.7
Career 133 1872 48.4% 37.5% 70.1% 5.8 1.3 1.1 0.3 14.1

Coaching career

Between the 2020 and 2021 WNBA seasons, Copper worked as an assistant coach for Purdue University Northwest's women's basketball team.[13]

References

  1. ^ "COPPER Kahleah". Paris 2024 Olympics. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Costabile, Annie (July 17, 2021). "Kahleah Copper's All-Star debut just the beginning for young star from North Philly". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  3. ^ Cole, Damichael (June 30, 2021). "Prep Charter grad Kahleah Copper becomes the first Philly player since 2006 named to the WNBA All-Star game". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d Hunt, Donald (October 11, 2021). "Former Prep Charter standout Kahleah Copper stars in the WNBA Finals". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  5. ^ Breitman, Aaron (July 14, 2021). "Former Rutgers stars Kahleah Copper & Betnijah Laney making WNBA All-Star Game debuts". On the Banks. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  6. ^ "Kahleah Copper - 2015-16 Women's Basketball Roster - The Official Site of Rutgers Athletics". www.scarletknights.com. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  7. ^ Morrison, Sean (February 2, 2017). "Elena Delle Donne trade: win for all three sides". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  8. ^ Costabile, Annie (October 12, 2021). "The trade that brought Kahleah Copper to Chicago". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  9. ^ Voepel, Mechelle (October 12, 2021). "'She's the best player out there sometimes': Chicago's Copper is the breakout player of the WNBA playoffs". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  10. ^ Ariail, Cat (February 25, 2020). "With VanderQuigs returning, plus arrival of Azurá Stevens and Sydney Colson, is the Sky the limit for Chicago?". Swish Appeal. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  11. ^ "Kahleah Copper Returns to Chicago, Re-Signs With Sky". Chicago Sky. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  12. ^ Kenney, Madeline (August 22, 2020). "Sky guard Kahleah Copper shining in starting role this season". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  13. ^ a b Kenney, Madeline (December 5, 2020). "Sky star Kahleah Copper is taking an unexpected career turn in the offseason". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  14. ^ Voepel, Mechelle (October 17, 2021). "WNBA Finals 2021: 10 biggest questions for the WNBA offseason". ABC7 New York. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  15. ^ Costabile, Annie (January 13, 2022). "Sky put core designation on WNBA Finals MVP Kahleah Copper". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  16. ^ Costabile, Annie (January 31, 2022). "Kahleah Copper will sign multiyear deal with the Sky". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  17. ^ Philippou, Alexa (February 6, 2024). "Sky trades Kahleah Copper to Mercury for WNBA draft picks, players". ESPN. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  18. ^ "Kahleah Wins Spanish League Championship and MVP". May 13, 2022.
  19. ^ @Unrivaledwbb (July 17, 2024). "KAH IS UNRIVALED👑 8/30✅" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  20. ^ "North Philly's Kahleah Copper among WNBA stars representing Team USA at the FIBA World Cup". Philadelphia Inquirer. September 19, 2022. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  21. ^ Costabile, Annie (February 9, 2023). "USA Basketball camp provides outlet for Sky star Kahleah Copper after time of 'emotional' free-agency news". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  22. ^ Henderson, Cydney (June 17, 2024). "USA basketball Olympic women's team roster: Who made the cut for Paris Olympics". USA Today. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  23. ^ Summers, Juana (August 11, 2024). "U.S. women's basketball team defeats France to win eighth straight Olympic gold medal". NPR. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  24. ^ "Kahleah Copper WNBA Stats". Basketball Reference.
  • Career information and player statistics from WNBA.com, NCAA.org, and Basketball-Reference.com
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