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Natasha Cloud, Kahleah Copper’s close bond keeps building stronger, Mercury reaping the rewards

© Owen Ziliak/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

The star-studded duo of Natasha Cloud and Kahleah Copper has clicked the second they both joined the Phoenix Mercury in the offseason, seamlessly transitioning into a new environment.

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Since their arrival, both have made WNBA history multiple times in a season where star Brittney Griner missed the first 10 games with a toe fracture and a flurry of other injuries have impacted how the team functions as a collective.

Between the free-agent signing of Cloud and the blockbuster trade for Copper, the moves Mercury general manager Nick U’Ren and his staff had made to acquire the two have proven to be game-changers for the franchise. Per game, Copper is third in league in scoring with 22.5 points and Cloud is third in assists with 7.3.

Attaching those statistics to their desire to put everything they have on the line defensively has been a recipe of success given the adversity that the team has been dealt when shorthanded.

Watching the work they put in on a daily basis and seeing their friendship become even stronger, Phoenix head coach Nate Tibbetts credits both of them for forming the chemistry they have in such a short amout of time together.

“I think they knew each other a little bit before this, they are like two peas in a pod now and they are connected,” Tibbetts said. “Pretty cool to see especially [with] both of them being from the Philly area, and it is probably them taking a chance just like Bec [Rebecca Allen] of coming here.”

Not only do they share the same desire to do the best that they can on the court, but they share a similarilty that means so much to the dynamic duo: both being around the area of Philadelphia.

“Philly” is known for being a hard-working, blue collar city who prides itself in toughness, grit and resiliency, attributes they both instill into the Mercury whenever they have the opportunity to do so.

Pouring her blood, sweat and tears out for Phoenix to win, Cloud confidently embodies what it means to be a pro’s pro and Copper recognizes that.

“She is just a dawg,” Copper said. “I have had teammates who have matched my energy but Tash really match my s***. I can just look at her and she is like, ‘I got you.’

“When we mess some stuff up, I know I don’t have to change how I talk to Tash or anything, I can go up to her,” Copper said. “Just us understanding the love we have for each other and it is just a mutual thing. We both want to win and we are both super competitors. Knowing that I got a real soldier, that is what I like to have on the court.”

Despite the injury woes to players like Griner, Allen, Taurasi and others, Copper and Cloud have played all 21 games so far this season and the Mercury are 11-10 as a result.

With the combination of the two at the forefront of this rise off of a 9-31 season last year, Tibbetts is proud of Cloud and Copper for adapting to their new situation and making everyone around them better.

“For them to have this close relationship is really special,” Tibbetts said. “You see those guys talking at different points before the game or halftime together. Tash talks to everyone and Kah will listen. Kah is more quiet and picks and chooses, but you can see she has a lot of faith and belief in Tash. That what it is about is those relationships and when you are on teams. That’ll be a bond that they will have for the rest of their life, I am happy they have both each other for sure.”

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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers ASU Athletics, the Phoenix Mercury and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini

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