Folks, Kahleah Copper did it again.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!A perfectly executed sideline out-of-bounds play gave Copper an easy look in the corner, allowing her to tap into her clutch gene and nail the game-winning shot with just 0.7 seconds remaining. But what was just as impressive was what she did leading up to that.
Here is Kahleah Copper’s (@kahleahcopper ) clutch, game-winning 3 with less than a second left in the game, propelling the Mercury to an 81-80 win over the Lynx. #ValleyTogether #WNBA #LynxRecognize pic.twitter.com/CrlAsR2cM9
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) June 8, 2024
Copper scored 13-points in the final 5:18 of the game to lead Phoenix to the victory — but it was the fashion in which she scored those points that showed her immense value to the Mercury.
From multiple catch-and-shoot corner triples, to pressuring the rim and finishing within the trenches, and even a step-back triple to show off her creation. Copper’s entire repertoire was on display against Minnesota, showing that she could close a game in various ways.
Copper tallied 34 points, six rebounds, five 3-pointers, and four steals/blocks. The Philadelphia native became the third player in WNBA history to have multiple games in a season with 30-plus points, 5-plus 3-pointers and 4-plus steals/blocks — joining Cynthia Cooper (1997) and Diana Taurasi (2008).
Keep in mind, the Phoenix Mercury are just 11 games into their season.
Kahleah Copper is absolutely ridiculous.
Copper becomes the 3rd player in WNBA History to have multiple games with 30+ points, 5+ 3PM, and 4+ Steals/Blocks in a single season, joining Cynthia Cooper (1997) and Diana Taurasi (2008) pic.twitter.com/GUYYfcfNRJ
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) June 8, 2024
“It was a moment,” Copper said discussing her emotions hitting the dagger. “When you get in the zone, like I was there. I think for like a minute, I was there, I was super locked in. I was just ready to make a big play.”
Copper was surely in the zone, creating momentum for Phoenix in a plethora of ways. And surprisingly, she wasn’t originally supposed to receive the last shot.
Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2) makes the shot at the Footprint Center in Phoenix on Jun. 7, 2024.
Nicole Mullen/The Republic
It was revealed in the postgame presser that the last shot was drawn up for Taurasi. But Taurasi, with all of her years of experience, knew that the ball had to be in Copper’s hands.
“The play was drawn for [Taurasi], and she was like, ‘No — we’re going to run it for Kahleah [Copper] — and she’s going to score,” Copper said when discussing what was said in the timeout as Tibbetts was drawing up the final play. “We went out there and we executed…And I was just in a position to knock down a big shot.”
Copper ranks third across the WNBA in points per game at 23.5 a contest, and continues to be the engine that fuels the Phoenix Mercury.
WATCH: Nate Tibbetts proud of Mercury’s resiliency in ‘must-win,’ revenge game vs. Lynx
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Justin LaCertosa covers Phoenix Sports News for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @LaCertosaSports
