Kahleah Copper: From College Standout to WNBA Star
Kahleah Copper (pronounced kə-LEE-ə; born August 28, 1994) is an American professional basketball player currently with the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and Rose BC of Unrivaled. Copper's journey to WNBA stardom began with a notable college career, where she honed her skills and developed into a player capable of making significant contributions to her team.
Early College Years
Copper attended Rutgers University, where she played basketball for four years. Her debut was against Georgia, and she did not score in that game. She played seven minutes and she had two rebounds. Rutgers lost that game, as Georgia picked up a 57-51 win. Copper scored in double figures in her second game, as she had 10 points. She also had six rebounds, an assist and a steal. She showed a glimpse of what she can do on the offensive end, and later in her college years, she would be one of Rutgers' best scorers. The Mercury guard continued to showcase her skills throughout the season, and the next time she scored 10 or more points was against Tennessee. Rutgers lost that game, as Tennessee picked up a 66-47 win.
In her freshman year, Copper averaged 5.1 points and 3.5 rebounds. She was a reserve during that time.
Developing into a Star at Rutgers
Over her four years at Rutgers, Copper steadily improved her game, showcasing her potential as a high-scoring guard. Copper averaged 14.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 steals in her four years with Rutgers.
During the 2013-2014 season, she was named WNIT’s Most Valuable Player and First Team All-American Athletic Conference. Excelled twice against eventual NCAA champ UConn, putting up 20 and 22-pt. efforts vs.
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Her junior year, she had 30 points the year before. She also had 10 rebounds, four steals and two assists in her team's 78-65 win over Saint Joseph's. Scaife was the team's second-leading scorer again, and she had 24 points. She also had three assists, two steals and a rebound.
Standout Final Season
Copper's final season at Rutgers was her best. She averaged 17.7 points, eight rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.6 steals. This was a significant difference from her first season, as she averaged 5.1 points and 3.5 rebounds. Her role began to change, and she had a similar path as she did in the beginning of her WNBA career.
She had her best game in her final seson, and she did it against Minnesota. The Mercury guard had 31 points in that game, and she also had nine rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. She was one of three players who scored at least 10 points, as Tyler Scaife, who was drafted by the Mercury in 2018, had 16 points, three assists, two rebounds and two blocks. Aliyah Jeune was the third player, and she had 10 points off the bench. Despite Copper's big game, Minnesota defeated Rutgers 85-72. That game was not Copper's first 30-point game in college.
College Accolades
Copper left Rutgers as one of the program's all-time greats. Ranked No. 3 on Rutgers’ career points chart behind only future WNBA stars Cappie Pondexter and Sue Wicks.
- 2015-16: All-Big Ten First Team pick (coaches and media); one of 20 named to the Drysdale Award Watch List as nation’s top player.
- 2014-15: Second Team All-Big Ten (coaches and media) after being Rutgers’ leading scorer for second straight season; was 7th in Big Ten in scoring.
- 2013-14: Named WNIT’s Most Valuable Player and First Team All-American Athletic Conf.
Transition to the WNBA
Copper's success in college led to her being drafted as the 7th overall pick in the 2016 WNBA draft by the Washington Mystics. The start of Copper's college years was similar to the start of her WNBA career. She was drafted by the Washington Mystics, and she averaged 6.2 points and 3.1 rebounds that year.
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From Bench Player to All-Star
After being drafted by the Washington Mystics, Copper was traded to the Chicago Sky. The following year, she was traded to the Chicago Sky, and the Mystics received Elena Delle Donne. Copper's role changed, and she gradually became one of the Sky's top players. After three years as a bench player with the Sky, she was elevated to a starting role in 2020.
Copper continued into her starting role in the 2021 season, and was named as an All-Star for the first time. She emerged as a star player in 2021, being named a WNBA All-Star for the first time. 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. She helped them win a championship, and now, she is trying to do the same with the Mercury.
Trade to Phoenix Mercury
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.
Copper is one of the Phoenix Mercury's stars, and she joined the team before the 2024 season. She had an excellent season, and in her second season, she continued to contribute. Copper averaged 15.6 points in 2025, and she did it while dealing with injuries. She dealt with a knee injury and a hamstring injury later on. The Mercury guard had a nice playoff run, and in Phoenix's final game, she had 30 points in her team's loss.
She is one of the WNBA's best scorers, and in her two years with the Mercury, she has played a major role in their success. Her big performances in the 2024 season helped Phoenix reach the playoffs, and this year, Copper had excellent games during the WNBA Finals. The Mercury All-Star has achieved a lot in her WNBA career, and before that, she was establishing herself in college.
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International Career
In the 2021-2022 season Copper played for Perfumerias Avenida in the Spanish League and the Euroleague. In September 2022, Copper was named to the USA international team ahead of the 2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup. The team went undefeated in the tournament and won the gold medal.
Current Endeavors
Kahleah Copper is one of the Phoenix Mercury's stars.
Copper has done great things in Phoenix, and before that, she helped the Chicago Sky make history.
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