Already signing Natasha Cloud as a free agent, the Phoenix Mercury have made a deal for a player who caused them problems on the biggest stage in the WNBA.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Phoenix announced today that they traded for 2021 WNBA Champion and Finals MVP Kahleah Copper from the Chicago Sky.
KAHLEAH FREAKING COPPER.
The WNBA Champion, Finals MVP and 3x All-Star is heading to The Valley! 🌵
➡️ https://t.co/s1D4ULUvzd pic.twitter.com/GSdnSwuR00
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) February 6, 2024
Out of Rutgers, Copper was the seventh overall pick in the 2016 WNBA Draft by the Washington Mystics. But after her rookie season with the Mystics, Copper spent her last seven (2017-23) in Chicago.
Overall, she played in 254 WNBA games, averaged 11.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.
Against her new team, Copper was the Finals MVP in 2021 as she averaged 17 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals to help the Sky beat the Mercury in a four-game series, 3-1. This was the first WNBA title in franchise history for the Sky.
Copper has also won a gold medal with USA Basketball at the 2022 FIBA World Cup and is a three-time WNBA All-Star (2021, 2022, 2023).
Also in the deal, forward Morgan Bertsch will join Copper on the Mercury. Bertsch had 4.4 points and 1.7 rebounds per game in 28 games with Chicago last year.
Going the other way, the Sky acquired forwards Brianna Turner, Michaela Onyenwere, Phoenix’s 2024 first-round pick (third overall), 2026 first-round pick, 2025 second-round pick and the rights to a 2026 second-round pick swap with the Mercury.
Turner departs from Phoenix after five seasons with the Mercury. The 11th overall pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft played 158 games and posted 5.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. Turner still holds the franchise records for the most rebounds in a single-season (302) and most rebounds in a game (21).
As for the 2021 WNBA Rookie of the Year in Onyenwere, she completed a full 40-game season for the Mercury in 2023 and averaged 8.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists. Prior to last season, she was acquired by Phoenix in a four-team trade prior to the 2023 season involving the New York Liberty (her first team), Sky and Dallas Wings.
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Alec Cipollini is covers the Arizona Coyotes and Cardinals for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account @AlecCipollini
