Kahleah Copper just getting started for Mercury after early-season tear

The home opener for the Phoenix Mercury brought out an explosion of energy, excitement and drama that couldn’t have been scripted, especially for newcomers like Kahleah Copper.

Establishing a new era for one of the most historic teams in the WNBA, the newly-reshaped Mercury were able to claim their first win of the 2024 season, an 88-85 victory over the Atlanta Dream on Saturday.

While the game went to the wire, there were many twists and turns along the way for that said result. The Mercury led and the Dream struggled early on, Atlanta made a 10-point comeback to take the lead late and Sophie Cunningham scored a pair of threes in the waning moments of the fourth quarter, reclaiming the lead and sealing the win.

For Copper, a fairytale-like 38-point performance in her first home game in Footprint Center tagged along with multiple, crucial blocks was the definition of how to make a statement in front of a new fanbase.

“My teammates did a good job of getting me open, coach [Nate Tibbetts] did a good job of drawing plays up and I was in the best position to succeed,” Copper said after the win.

The Pennsylvania native first introduced herself to the fans by starting a 12-2 run in the first quarter with six points from herself. She would finish with 11 in the quarter.

After just one free throw made in the second frame, Copper cranked up another gear as she scored 26 points in the second half. Copper shot 11-for-20 (55%) and 3-for-5 (60%) from three overall.

Finishing with 38, she broke her previous career high of 37 points she set on August 25, 2023, against the Las Vegas Aces. Not only that, but Copper made Mercury franchise history by scoring 57 combined points in her first two games this season. The previous leader was Cappie Pondexter’s who totaled 55 in her first two games in 2008.

“Kah was unbelievable down the stretch and she just made good decisions one right after another,” Tibbetts said.

Major Impact Already Setting In

When Mercury general manager Nick U’Ren pulled the trigger and acquired Copper in a trade from the Chicago Sky during the offseason, Phoenix knew who they were getting.

In 2021, the Rutgers product exemplified her undeniable scoring talent and high defensive IQ with the Sky, ultimately leading the team to their first WNBA championship in 2021, knocking off the Mercury in the finals 3-1. Copper was named the 2021 WNBA Finals MVP.

Being able to reunite with one of her former teammates, Natasha Cloud believed Copper would become one of the focal points on the roster based on her trajectory. Cloud and Copper were on the Washington Mystics together in 2016 before Copper was traded to the Sky in a package that saw WNBA star Elena Delle Donne go the other way.

When recollecting her thoughts and praising Copper for the impact that she has made already for the Mercury, Cloud had nothing but good things to say about her.

“Kah is a pro’s pro, she continues to grow,” Copper said. “Most people forget that we started in Washington together and to see her growth over the years and to really see who she turned into with going to Chicago and making it her own franchise and really just figuring out who she is as a player when that opportunity came back around for us to team up, you want to play with a dog like Kah. Someone that is going to continue to push you and challenge you to get better.

She is a prolific scorer, she can score in a multitude of ways. She’s a two-way player. On top of her scoring 38 points tonight, she had the job of guarding Rhyne [Howard] as well. When you can have that impact on both sides of the court, you are going run through a wall for this one. Kah is just amazing. It is amazing to see her really open up a new chapter, a new journey and to start off with 38 points, she is setting the standard for all of us.”

Multiple players have mentioned that there is a new culture that has been instilled into the franchise, and Copper is at the forefront of that charge. Her championship pedigree, extensive experience in the WNBA, embracing her mental aptitude to succeed and ability to help others around her will go a long way for not just now, but going into the future.

Off to a blazing start already, the Mercury will hope that Copper continues her tear going forward, something that the fanbase and the franchise will all rally around.