free

phoenix-mercury-top-plays-vs-las-vegas-aces-4

Phoenix Mercury Top Plays vs. Las Vegas Aces

kahleah-copper-points-leader-in-phoenix-mercury-vs-jp-japan-national-team-top-points

Kahleah Copper Points Leader in Phoenix Mercury vs. JP Japan National Team - Top Points

Draft 2026

Which collegiate program has produced the most players drafted into the WNBA over the league’s 30 years? What about first-round picks? What about No. 1 overall picks? What about players who went on to become league MVPs? How about Finals MVPs?
If you ever see any of those trivia questions, don’t worry. We have the answers to all of them and more!
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: center">Schools that have produced the most overall WNBA Draft picks</h3>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-183309 aligncenter" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/03/Geno-1.png" alt="" width="960" height="688" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/03/Geno-1.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/03/Geno-1-300x215.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/03/Geno-1-768x550.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
The two schools at the top of this list should come as no surprise as they have been the preeminent collegiate programs over the 30-year history of the WNBA – the University of Connecticut and the University of Tennessee each with over 45 players drafted into the WNBA.
Geno Auriemma has been at the helm at UConn for the entirety of the WNBA’s existence, beginning his tenure in 1985 and leading the Huskies to 12 NCAA championships. The Connecticut program has sent 52 players to the league and produced some of the best players in WNBA history, highlighted by No. 1 overall draft picks Sue Bird (2002), Diana Taurasi (2004), Tina Charles (2010), Maya Moore (2011), and Breanna Stewart (2016).
The late Pat Summitt led Tennessee until 2012, winning eight national championships and sending plenty of Lady Volunteers to the WNBA. Of the 46 WNBA players drafted out of Tennessee, 29 came during Summitt’s tenure, including a pair of No. 1 overall picks in Chamique Holdsclaw (1999) and Candace Parker (2008).
Below is the list of the top nine schools and one country that have sent the most players to the WNBA via the draft (excluding the 1997 WNBA Elite Draft.)
<ul>
<li>UConn: 52 players</li>
<li>Tennessee: 46 players</li>
<li>Stanford: 31 players</li>
<li>Duke: 28 players</li>
<li>Baylor: 26 players</li>
<li>Australia: 26 players</li>
<li>South Carolina: 25 players</li>
<li>LSU: 25 players</li>
<li>Notre Dame: 24 players</li>
<li>Georgia: 24 players</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: center">Schools producing the most first-round draft picks</h3>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258773" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/04/GettyImages-2270764897-1-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/04/GettyImages-2270764897-1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/04/GettyImages-2270764897-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/04/GettyImages-2270764897-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/04/GettyImages-2270764897-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/04/GettyImages-2270764897-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/04/GettyImages-2270764897-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
When looking at schools that have delivered the most first-round draft picks, there&#8217;s a change from the list of most overall draft picks.
UConn, Tennessee and Stanford remain in first, second and third place, respectively. South Carolina enters the conversation after touting two players in the first round of the 2026 WNBA Draft, bringing their total to 15 to round out the top four. Duke and Baylor are tied for fifth place with 11 players.
<ul>
<li>Connecticut: 29 players (last in 2026 – Azzi Fudd, No. 1, DAL)</li>
<li>Tennessee: 21 players (last in 2024 – Rickea Jackson, No. 4, LAS)</li>
<li>Stanford: 15 players (last in 2024 – Cameron Brink, No. 2, LAS)</li>
<li>South Carolina: 15 players (last in 2026 – Madina Okot, No. 13, ATL)</li>
<li>Duke: 11 players (last in 2018 – Lexie Brown, No. 9, CON)</li>
<li>Baylor: 11 players (last in 2022 – Queen Egbo, No. 10, IND)</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: center">Schools producing the most No. 1 overall picks</h3>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-183311 size-full" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/03/Top-picks-1.png" alt="Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart, Tina Charles, Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird pictured during a WNBA All-Star game" width="940" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/03/Top-picks-1.png 940w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/03/Top-picks-1-300x204.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/03/Top-picks-1-768x523.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px" />
UConn holds a commanding lead with seven first-overall picks. South Carolina joins Notre Dame, Stanford, and Tennessee, with two players going first overall and holding a four-way tie for second place.
<table style="height: 120px;width: 100%;border-collapse: collapse" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 19.9782%;height: 24px;text-align: center">SCHOOL</td>
<td style="width: 7.20528%;height: 24px;text-align: center">NO.</td>
<td style="width: 34.4978%;height: 24px;text-align: center">NAME</td>
<td style="width: 18.2314%;height: 24px;text-align: center">YEAR</td>
<td style="width: 19.9782%;height: 24px;text-align: center">TEAM</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 19.9782%;height: 24px">UConn</td>
<td style="width: 7.20528%;height: 24px">7</td>
<td style="width: 34.4978%;height: 24px">Sue Bird 
Diana Taurasi 
Tina Charles 
Maya Moore 
Breanna Stewart 
Paige Bueckers 
Azzi Fudd</td>
<td style="width: 18.2314%;height: 24px">2002 
2004 
2010 
2011 
2016 
2025 
2026</td>
<td style="width: 19.9782%;height: 24px">Seattle 
Phoenix 
Connecticut 
Minnesota 
Seattle 
Dallas 
Dallas</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 19.9782%">South Carolina</td>
<td style="width: 7.20528%">2</td>
<td style="width: 34.4978%">Aliyah Boston 
A&#8217;ja Wilson</td>
<td style="width: 18.2314%">2023 
2018</td>
<td style="width: 19.9782%">Indiana 
Las Vegas</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 19.9782%;height: 24px">Notre Dame</td>
<td style="width: 7.20528%;height: 24px">2</td>
<td style="width: 34.4978%;height: 24px">Jewell Loyd 
Jackie Young</td>
<td style="width: 18.2314%;height: 24px">2015 
2019</td>
<td style="width: 19.9782%;height: 24px">Seattle 
Las Vegas</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 19.9782%;height: 24px">Stanford</td>
<td style="width: 7.20528%;height: 24px">2</td>
<td style="width: 34.4978%;height: 24px">Nneka Ogwumike 
Chiney Ogwumike</td>
<td style="width: 18.2314%;height: 24px">2012 
2014</td>
<td style="width: 19.9782%;height: 24px">Los Angeles 
Connecticut</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 19.9782%;height: 24px">Tennessee</td>
<td style="width: 7.20528%;height: 24px">2</td>
<td style="width: 34.4978%;height: 24px">Chamique Holdsclaw 
Candace Parker</td>
<td style="width: 18.2314%;height: 24px">1999 
2008</td>
<td style="width: 19.9782%;height: 24px">Washington 
Los Angeles</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: center">Schools with multiple players selected in the first round</h3>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258740" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/04/GettyImages-2271210009-1-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="642" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/04/GettyImages-2271210009-1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/04/GettyImages-2271210009-1-300x201.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/04/GettyImages-2271210009-1-1024x685.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/04/GettyImages-2271210009-1-768x514.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/04/GettyImages-2271210009-1-1536x1027.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/04/GettyImages-2271210009-1-2048x1369.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Back to trivia time. What was the only occasion in which a school had three players taken with the first three overall picks (1-2-3) in the WNBA Draft?
The answer is the 2016 Draft when UConn teammates Breanna Stewart (No. 1, Seattle), Moriah Jefferson (No. 2, San Antonio), and Morgan Tuck (No. 3, Connecticut) were the first three names called to the stage that night.
There have been four occasions in which the first two players selected came from the same school:
<ul>
<li>USC (1997): Tina Thompson (1 / Houston), Pam McGee (2 / Sacramento)</li>
<li>UConn (2002): Sue Bird (1 / Seattle), Swin Cash (2 / Detroit)</li>
<li>UConn (2016): Breanna Stewart (1 / Seattle), Moriah Jefferson (2 / San Antonio)</li>
<li>Oregon (2020): Sabrina Ionescu (1 / New York), Satou Sabally (2 / Dallas)</li>
</ul>
Just a week after winning the program&#8217;s first National Championship, UCLA made history in the 2026 WNBA Draft as the first team to have five first-round selections, and the first with six players selected in one draft. Lauren Betts (No. 4), Gabriela Jaquez (No. 5) and Kiki Rice (No. 6) were taken in a three-pick run, with Gianna Kneepkens (No. 15) closing out the First Round and Charlise Leger-Walker (No. 18) rounding out the Lady Bruins&#8217; six selections in the Second Round.
In 2002, UConn produced four first-round picks when Sue Bird led four Huskies selected with the first six picks in the draft – Bird (No. 1, Seattle), Swin Cash (No. 2, Detroit), Asjha Jones (No. 4, Washington) and Tamika Williams (No. 6, Minnesota).
Seven schools and one country have seen three players selected in the first round of a single WNBA Draft. UConn and South Carolina have seen three players drafted in the first round twice.
<ul>
<li>South Carolina
<ul>
<li> (2023) Aliyah Boston (No. 1, Indiana), Laeticia Amihere (No. 8, Atlanta), Zia Cooke (No. 11, Los Angeles)</li>
<li>(2017) Alaina Coates (No. 2, Chicago), Allisha Davis (No. 4, Dallas), Kaela Davis (No. 10, Dallas)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Oregon 
<ul>
<li>(2020): Sabrina Ionescu (No. 1, New York), Satou Sabally (No. 2, Dallas), Ruthy Hebard (No. 8, Chicago)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Notre Dame 
<ul>
<li>(2019): Jackie Young (No. 1, Las Vegas), Arike Ogunbowale (No. 5, Dallas), Brianna Turner (No. 11, Atlanta)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>UConn:
<ul>
<li>(2018): Gabby Williams (No. 4, Chicago), Azurá Stevens (No. 6, Dallas), Kia Nurse (No. 10, New York)</li>
<li> (2016): Breanna Stewart (No. 1, Seattle), Moriah Jefferson (No. 2, San Antonio), Morgan Tuck (No. 3, Connecticut)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Tennessee 
<ul>
<li>(2012): Shekinna Stricklen (No. 2, Seattle), Glory Johnson (No. 4, Tulsa), Kelly Cain (No. 7, New York)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Oklahoma 
<ul>
<li>(2002): Stacey Dales-Schuman (No. 3, Washington), LaNeishea Caufield (No. 14, Utah), Rosalind Ross (No. 16, Los Angeles)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Australia 
<ul>
<li>(2001): Lauren Jackson (No. 1, Seattle), Penny Taylor (No. 11, Cleveland), Kristen Veal (No. 13, Phoenix)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Georgia 
<ul>
<li>(2001): Kelly Miller (No. 2, Charlotte), Deanna Nolan (No. 6, Detroit), Coco Miller (No. 9, Washington)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: center">The NCAA Title / No. 1 WNBA Pick Double</h3>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258772" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/04/GettyImages-2209779457-3-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/04/GettyImages-2209779457-3-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/04/GettyImages-2209779457-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/04/GettyImages-2209779457-3-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/04/GettyImages-2209779457-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/04/GettyImages-2209779457-3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/04/GettyImages-2209779457-3-2048x1366.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
With the WNBA Draft being held just days after the conclusion of the NCAA Basketball Tournament, prospects have a chance to pull off an incredible double – finish their collegiate career by winning the NCAA national championship, then begin their professional career as the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft.
That feat has been accomplished six times in WNBA history, most recently by Paige Bueckers, who won her collegiate championship at Connecticut on April 6, 2025, and was drafted first overall by the Dallas Wings just eight days later.
<ul>
<li>Sue Bird (UConn, 2002) – drafted first overall by Seattle</li>
<li>Diana Taurasi (UConn, 2004) – drafted first overall by Phoenix</li>
<li>Candace Parker (Tennessee, 2008) – drafted first overall by Los Angeles</li>
<li>Tina Charles (UConn, 2010) – drafted first overall by Connecticut</li>
<li>Breanna Stewart (UConn, 2016) – drafted first overall by Seattle</li>
<li>Paige Bueckers (UConn, 2025) – drafted first overall by Dallas</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: center">Schools that have produced the most WNBA league MVPs</h3>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-183314 size-full" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/03/Lisa.png" alt="three-time WNBA MVP Lisa Leslie representing USC" width="940" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/03/Lisa.png 940w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/03/Lisa-300x204.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/03/Lisa-768x523.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px" />
Three schools have produced multiple players to win the WNBA League Most Valuable Player honors. Connecticut leads the way with four players winning MVP, but UConn and USC are tied with 5 total MVP awards.
<ul>
<li>USC: 2 players, 5 MVPs – Cynthia Cooper (1997, 1998), Lisa Leslie (2001, 2004, 2006)</li>
<li>Connecticut: 4 players, 5 MVPs – Diana Taurasi (2009), Tina Charles (2012), Maya Moore (2014), Breanna Stewart (2018, 2023)</li>
<li>Tennessee: 2 players, 3 MVPs – Candace Parker (2008, 2013), Tamika Catchings (2011)</li>
<li>South Carolina: 1 player, 4 MVPs &#8211; A&#8217;ja Wilson (2020, 2022, 2024, 2025)</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: center">Schools that have produced the most WNBA Finals MVPs</h3>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-183317 size-full" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/03/FMVP.png" alt="2x WNBA Finals MVP Lisa Leslie representing USC" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/03/FMVP.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/03/FMVP-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/03/FMVP-768x512.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
USC, UConn, and Tennessee are all represented on this list of MVPs as well, but they get some company from LSU and Rutgers, who each produced a pair of Finals MVPs. USC holds the mark for the most Finals MVPs as Cynthia Cooper (1997-2000) and Lisa Leslie (2001-02) combined to win the first six in WNBA history.
<ul>
<li>USC: 2 players, 6 Finals MVPs – Cynthia Cooper (1997-2000), Lisa Leslie (2001-02)</li>
<li>Connecticut: 3 players, 5 Finals MVPs – Diana Taurasi (2009, 2014), Maya Moore (2013), Breanna Stewart (2018, 2020)</li>
<li>LSU: 2 players, 3 Finals MVPs – Seimone Augustus (2011), Sylvia Fowles (2015, 2017)</li>
<li>Tennessee: 2 players, 2 Finals MVPs – Tamika Catchings (2012), Candace Parker (2016)</li>
<li>Rutgers: 2 players, 2 Finals MVPs – Cappie Pondexter (2007), Kahleah Copper (2021)</li>
<li>South Carolina: 1 player, 2 Finals MVPs – A&#8217;ja Wilson (2023, 2025)</li>
</ul>

WNBA_DRAFT_2026_logo_specialapplication_logowoman_white

college-draft-pick-history-2026

From College to the W: Which Schools Make History in the League?

Free Agency 2026

The following is a press release from the Phoenix Mercury:
 
PHOENIX – The Phoenix Mercury have re-signed four-time WNBA All-Star Kahleah Copper.
&#8220;Kahleah is a true leader, on and off the court, one of the most explosive athletes in our game and competes with a relentless edge and toughness,&#8221; said Mercury General Manager Nick U’Ren. “Her impact on both ends of the court and ability to deliver in the biggest moments make her truly special.”
Copper earned four consecutive WNBA All-Star selections from 2021-2024, was named to the All-WNBA Second Team in 2024 and captured WNBA Finals MVP honors in 2021. The 10-year WNBA veteran now enters her third season in Phoenix, after helping lead the Mercury to the WNBA Finals in 2025.
Last season, Copper averaged 15.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.1 steals in 28 games. The 6-1 wing was one of six players in the league (minimum 20 games) to average at least 15 points and two made three-pointers per game, joining Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Sabrina Ionescu, Kelsey Mitchell and Kelsey Plum. Despite missing 16 games due to injury, Copper recorded five games with at least four three-pointers, just one shy of her 2023 career best.
Copper is the fastest player in Mercury history to reach 1,000 points, doing so in just 51 games. With 10 30-point games for Phoenix, she has tied DeWanna Bonner for the third most in franchise history, behind only Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner. In 2024, she ranked third in the WNBA in scoring, finishing with 782 points – the third-highest single-season total in Mercury history after Taurasi’s 2006 and 2008 campaigns. Copper made WNBA history in 2024, becoming the first player to score 37+ points in back-to-back games.
The North Philadelphia native holds career averages of 12.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists across 319 games. She has won gold medals with Team USA at the 2022 FIBA World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics, scoring a team-high 10 points in the fourth quarter of the Olympic gold medal game.

phoenix-mercury-re-sign-kahleah-copper

Phoenix Mercury Re-Sign Kahleah Copper

Editorial

2026-free-agents-to-watch

2026 Free Agents to Watch

top-10-plays-of-the-week-8

Top 10 Plays of the Week

AP Recap

PHOENIX (AP) — A’ja Wilson put in work in the paint, getting bucket after bucket despite multiple defenders draped all over her.
She got plenty of help from Chelsea Gray, Jewell Loyd and Dana Evans. The trio started raining 3s early in the second quarter.
The Las Vegas Aces — once again — were an offensive force in the WNBA Finals, and they were well on their way to their third championship in four seasons. They finished off a four-game sweep of the Phoenix Mercury with a 97-86 victory on Friday night.
“These guys are elite,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said.
Wilson had 31 points and nine rebounds while Gray and Jackie Young each scored 18 points. Five players scored in double figures.
The Aces made quick work of the league’s first best-of-seven Finals. They scored 54 points in the first half and averaged more than 90 points per game in the series.
Wilson came to the postgame press conference wearing giant ski goggles from a Champagne celebration in the locker room and carrying a pink tambourine, shaking it after answers she liked.
“This is a symbol of the joyfulness we have right now,” Wilson said, grinning. “I’m just so grateful to be with this bunch — and that’s not the alcohol talking.”
Wilson came to the postgame press conference wearing giant ski goggles from a Champagne celebration in the locker room and carrying a pink tambourine, shaking it after answers she liked.
“This is a symbol of the joyfulness we have right now,” Wilson said, grinning. “I’m just so grateful to be with this bunch — and that’s not the alcohol talking.”
Wilson — honored as the Finals MVP — led the way for the Aces despite a poor shooting night. The four-time regular-season MVP finished 7 of 21 from the field, but made 17 of 19 free throws. Gray made four 3-pointers, including two in the fourth quarter to help turn back a final rally by the Mercury.
The Aces led 76-62 going into the fourth quarter, but the Mercury went on an 8-0 run that cut the deficit to 76-70 with 7:56 left. That was as close as they would get.
<div class="FreeStar Advertisement" data-module="">
<div id="n2q7zvrmfep" class="fs-feed-ad" data-freestar-ad="__336x280 __336x280" data-google-query-id="CI2Yl8W7m5ADFaC7WgUdx_4LeQ">
Kahleah Copper led the Mercury with 30 points, shooting 12 of 22 from the field. Alyssa Thomas had 17 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts <a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/article/mercury-coach-nate-tibbetts-ejected-wnba-finals-555e8d47402d52fd1818b122d40bb2ee" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA">was ejected in the third quarter</a> after receiving two quick technical fouls from official Gina Cross. Tibbetts was arguing a foul call against Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani, and reacted in disbelief as he was escorted off the court.
DeWanna Bonner and Copper also got called for technical fouls in the fourth quarter.
The Aces never trailed in the series clincher, building a 30-21 lead by the end of the first quarter on 55% shooting. Loyd, Gray and Evans made three straight 3s early in the second quarter to put Las Vegas ahead by 19.
Las Vegas settled for a 54-38 halftime advantage. Wilson had 14 points before the break while Gray added 10.
Tibbetts said the Aces were a tough team to guard all series.
“Unbelievable team — they were just playing at an extremely high level,” Tibbetts said. “We put ourselves in position to have a chance in a couple games, but what a run they’ve been on. Hitting big shots after big shots.”
The Mercury were without forward Satou Sabally, who suffered a concussion near the end of Game 3. They suffered another injury blow on Friday when Thomas had to leave just before halftime after taking a hard hit to her right shoulder on a screen from Loyd.
Thomas returned for the second half but was hampered by the injury.
The Mercury enjoyed a deep playoff run under Tibbetts, but couldn’t find a way to slow down the Aces. Phoenix made it to the finals after beating the defending champion New York Liberty in the opening round and knocking off the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the semifinals.
Phoenix lost in the WNBA Finals for the second time in five years, also falling to the Chicago Sky in 2021. The Mercury have won three championships, with the last coming in 2014.
</div>
</div>

WNBA_Finals_2025_YTTV_Primary_white

2025-finals-aces-mercury-game-4-recap

Game Recap: Las Vegas Aces vs. Phoenix Mercury (Finals, Game 4)

kahleah-copper-with-30-points-vs-las-vegas-aces

Kahleah Copper with 30 Points vs. Las Vegas Aces

phoenix-mercury-vs-las-vegas-aces-game-highlights-8

Phoenix Mercury vs. Las Vegas Aces - Game Highlights

top-plays-of-the-day-10-10-2025

Top Plays of the Day, 10/10/2025

Latest

Kahleah Copper

2022 (Chicago)
<ul>
<li>Re-signed with Chicago Sky on a multi-year deal in January</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Named to her second WNBA All-Star team in 2022 </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Led the Sky in scoring in 2022</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">No. 13 in league 2022 points per game (15.7)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Reached 250 career assists 8/7 vs. Connecticut</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Secured her third career double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds on 7/29 vs. New York</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Reached 2,000 career points on 7/23 vs. New York </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Reached 600 career rebounds this 2022 season </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Reached 500 career defensive rebounds on 6/29 vs. Connecticut</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Reached 200 games played on 7/2 vs. Phoenix</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Reached 100 career steals on 5/21 vs. Phoenix</li>
</ul>
2021 (Chicago)
<ul>
<li>Awarded the 2021 WNBA Finals MVP after posting averages of 17 PPG, 5.5 RPG and 1.3 SPG during the four-game series</li>
<li>Named a WNBA All-Star for the first time in her career</li>
<li>Scored in double-figures in all 10 of the Sky’s playoff games and dropped over 20 points in four games</li>
<li>Started all 32 games for the Chicago Sky and led the team in scoring with 14.4 PPG, good for 18th in the league. Also led team in minutes at 30.8 MPG</li>
<li>Tied a career-high with 26 points against the Seattle Storm on August 8, 2021</li>
<li>Playoff career-high is also 26 points recorded in a Game 3 win over the Connecticut Sun</li>
</ul>
2020 (Chicago)
<ul>
<li>Appeared in each game of the 2020 season, making 22 starts</li>
<li>Was one of three Sky players to start in every game (Vandersloot, Quigley)</li>
<li>Averaged career-highs in PPG (14.8), RPG (5.5), SPG (1.0) and APG (2.1)</li>
<li>Shot a career-best 49.6% from the field</li>
<li>Scored 20+ points on three separate occasions, the most in a single season in her career</li>
<li>Scored in double figures in 20 of 22 games</li>
<li>Averaged 31.3 MPG, a career-high and second on the Chicago Sky</li>
<li>Recorded a career-high four steals against Connecticut (8/8)</li>
<li>Produced a career-best six assists vs. Connecticut (8/14)</li>
<li>Posted a career-high 26 points against Indiana (8/22)</li>
<li>Played a career-high in minutes (37) against Los Angeles (9/6)</li>
</ul>
2019 (Chicago)  
<ul>
<li>Played all 34 games for the Sky off the bench in 2019</li>
<li>Averaged 6.7 PPG, 1.9 RPG and 14.8 MPG</li>
<li>Scored in double-figures on seven different occasions</li>
<li>In playoff play, she averaged nine points per game and 75% shooting, including 16 points in the Sky’s second-round competition against the Las Vegas Aces on Sept 15</li>
</ul>
2018 (Chicago)
<ul>
<li>Started in two out of 31 games played</li>
<li>Ranked third on the team in three-point percentage (37.5 percent)</li>
<li>Scored a then career-high 23 points in July 20 win against Dallas</li>
</ul>
2017 (Chicago)
<ul>
<li>Acquired by the Sky in a February 2017 trade with the Washington Mystics</li>
<li>Started in 10 out of 34 games played</li>
<li>Ranked sixth on team in scoring with 6.7 PPG</li>
<li>In games started, Copper averaged 10.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, 50 percent shooting, and 20.5 minutes per game</li>
</ul>
2016 (Washington)
<ul>
<li>Drafted No. 7 overall by the Washington Mystics in the 2016 WNBA Draft</li>
<li>Started in three out of 30 games played</li>
<li>Ranked ninth on team in scoring with 6.2 PPG</li>
<li>Ranked fourth on team in rebounds with 3.1 PPG</li>
<li>Finished the season first overall in three-point field goal percentage (.467) and sixth overall in field goal percentage (.471)</li>
</ul>
INTERNATIONAL
<ul>
<li>2021-2022: CB Perfumerias Avenida | Spain – Liga Femenina de Baloncesto
<ul>
<li style="list-style-type: none">
<ul>
<li>Awarded the EuroLeague MVP and named to All-EuroLeague Women First Team after averaging 22.5 PPG and 6.1 RPG</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>2020-21: Elitzur Ramla | Israel</li>
<li>2019-20: InvestInTheWest Enea Gorzow Wielkopolski | Poland
<ul>
<li>Earned FIBA’s Top Performer honors and was voted MVP when she dropped 33 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and grabbed four steals to kick start her team’s EuroCup campaign</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>2018-19: OGM Orman Genclik Ankara | Turkey</li>
<li>2016-17: Castor Braine | Belgium</li>
</ul>
COLLEGE (Rutgers University)
<ul>
<li>Ranked No. 3 on Rutgers’ career points chart behind only future WNBA stars Cappie Pondexter and Sue Wicks</li>
<li>Fourth Scarlet Knight woman to top 1,800 career points</li>
<li>2015 (Senior)
<ul>
<li>All-Big Ten First Team pick (coaches and media)</li>
<li>One of 20 named to the Drysdale Award Watch List as nation’s top player.</li>
<li>Scored in double figures in 30 games.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>2014 (Junior)
<ul>
<li>Second Team All-Big Ten (coaches and media) after being Rutgers’ leading scorer for second straight season</li>
<li>Was 7th in Big Ten in scoring. reached double-figure scoring in all but four contests; led Scarlet Knights in scoring in 15 games.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>2013 (Sophomore)
<ul>
<li>Named WNIT’s Most Valuable Player and First Team All-American Athletic Conf. Excelled twice against eventual NCAA champ UConn, putting up 20 and 22-pt. efforts vs. Huskies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>2012 (Freshman)
<ul>
<li>Named to BIG EAST All-Freshman Team.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
PERSONAL:
<ul>
<li>Kahleah Copper (born August 28, 1994) is a guard/forward for the Chicago Sky. She played college basketball at Rutgers. A McDonald’s All-American prep player at Philadelphia’s Prep Charter, she chose Rutgers in order to be closer to mom, Leticia, who was undergoing treatment for breast cancer.</li>
</ul>

Kahleah Copper signed a Contract with the Phoenix Mercury.

Top scorer in victory

Leads Phoenix in scoring

Re-signs with Phoenix

Scores 30 points in Game 4 loss

Posts 17 points in Game 3

att2

CarMax+Logo-White

DEL_PRI_ALL_WHT

google-logo-transparent

Nike-Logo-PNG

Get a courtside seat. Every week. With WNBA League Pass, watch live games across the league.

wnba_league_pass_logo_PRIMARY_RGB_fire (3)

PRESS PLAY ON THE WNBA