Through three games, Phoenix’s Kahleah Copper leads the WNBA in scoring at 31.3 points per game and 94 total points.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Copper scored 19 points in the season opener against Las Vegas, and has been on an absolute tear since that game. Copper posted a career-high 38-points in Saturday’s matchup against the Atlanta Dream, before following it up with a 37-point outburst against the Aces on Tuesday.
After last night’s performance, Copper became the first player in WNBA history to score 37-plus points in back-to-back games.
call her a trendsetter, she’s in a league of her own. pic.twitter.com/8ENV5ZlX7T
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) May 22, 2024
“I think I was just put in perfect positions,” said Copper. “I’m a competitor. We came in here last week, and we didn’t leave the court hanging our heads. We went about it like we’re going to get right back out there. Like I said before, shoutout to my teammates, shoutout to my coaches for believing in me. We go into those huddles and we’re drawing up plays, I’m just being put in a position to make a play and that’s what I try to do.”
Copper was shipped over to Phoenix in February after spending seven seasons in Chicago. Copper won a championship and finals MVP in 2021, and has been selected to three all-star games in her career.
Copper is just scratching the surface of her potential
Kah’s the talk of the town pic.twitter.com/tmfyPhmrXS
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) May 22, 2024
At 29-years-old, Copper is only scratching the surface of what seems to be her prime. She put in the work this past off-season to refine her offensive repertoire, working to improve her skill-set as a three-level scorer.
Copper’s ability to find her spots in the mid-range and use her physicality to bump defenders off of their spots has surely improved throughout the years. She’s also improved her face-up game and footwork this season. That combined with her ability to finish around the rim, make timely cuts and shoot off the catch makes Copper one of the more scalable guards across the entire WNBA.
“My offseason was big. I took pride in being a three-level scorer, but I wanted to be able to be more consistent,” said Copper. “Seeing this roster, understanding who I want to play with. Our off-court [dynamic], nobody understands. It’s like we’ve been together forever. A bunch of competitors, a bunch of jokesters. We have so much fun. We’re having fun in these games together, and I think that’s where we’re getting our separation.”
The addition of Copper takes pressure off of the rest of the team, allowing the rest of the squad to fill in the gaps while Copper takes over.
“What [Kahleah] has done for our team, it’s allowed others to be more comfortable in their role,” said head coach Nate Tibbetts following Phoenix’s win over Las Vegas. “She can score that thing at a high level, she’s finding her spots, she’s getting to the rim…I thought she played at a super high level once again.”
Copper has had a historic start to the 2024 season, and will look to continue her hot streak as Phoenix returns home on Thursday to host the Washington Mystics – the team that drafted Copper back in 2016.
Natasha Cloud made WNBA regular season history with double-double in win vs. Aces
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Justin LaCertosa covers Phoenix Sports News for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @LaCertosaSports
