What a season it’s been for Kahleah Copper! With a new team, a minor injury setback, juggling the competition of the WNBA, and the pressure of an Olympic year, she’s had her hands full. No wonder she describes it as ‘tough!’ And guess what? She’s played 47 games in total. Still, she managed it all while keeping her eyes on the ultimate prize.

The 4× WNBA All-Star reflected on the challenges of this season, particularly the demands of being in an Olympic year. She shared, “This was a tough season, being an Olympic year. This was a lot, mentally & physically.” While some players enjoyed downtime, she acknowledged whatever transpired was much needed. This was something she had worked for since childhood. “For me, it was the ultimate goal. So, it’s whatever it takes. I just won,” she added on coming out healthy, despite missing out on the playoff road ahead.

Copper was expected to carry the Chicago Sky with the new coach Teresa Weatherspoon, this season. But likely not impressed with Sky’s free agency handling Copper requested a trade. The guard reveals the franchise cooperated to find her a ‘good position’ and landing with Mercury proved to be so.

Alongside a studded roster of Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, and Natasha Cloud, Copper seemed to have made herself right at home. She averaged 21.1 points per game, leading the team in scoring, and putting up her career-best in the process. She did sit out a couple of games towards the end of the regular season due to a back injury. Assuring it to be nothing serious, head coach Nate Tibbetts speculated it to be a result of the fatigue of the Olympic year. But that, the Olympic selection, was the highlight of Copper’s year.

Kahleah’s Journey from Slow Start to Olympic Glory

Having joined the league in 2016, Kahleah Copper missed out on the Olympic roster twice. But after being a part of the roster cut during the Tokyo games, she really had her eyes set on Paris. She wasn’t disappointed when the time came. “I think I just had a moment where I’m like, ‘wow, it’s real,'” she said after finding herself on the Olympic bus being escorted by the police.

But she would start her Olympic journey a little quietly, limited to 6.3 minutes in group stage. However, her role increased during the knockout rounds. And she truly shined in the final against France. 

She turned around a 10-point deficit with her signature defensive plays and timely baskets, scoring 10 of her 12 points in the second half. Known for her two-way play then, Copper was a force on both ends during the gold medal match. Her defense stood out as she grabbed five rebounds, four of which were defensive, and added two critical steals. That’s how WNBA Finals MVP proved why she is an asset under pressure. Winning her first Olympic gold medal was quite a moment in her career. What a year indeed for Kahleah Copper.