Mercury Acquire Kahleah Copper From Sky

The Phoenix Mercury and Chicago Sky completed a blockbuster trade Tuesday morning sending 2021 Finals MVP Kahleah Copper to the desert in exchange for a package of picks and two roster players.

Heading to the Windy City is Brianna Turner, and Michaela Onyenwere, alongside the number 3 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, two 2025 second round picks, and a 2026 1st rounder. Completing the deal is Morgan Bertsch who will join Copper in Phoenix.

“I came to Chicago with a hunger and a desire to learn, make an impact in the community, and be great on the court,” Copper posted on social media following news of the deal. “7 years later I can honestly say, Chicago, I love y’all. We went through ups and downs together; we battled together; WE WON A CHAMPIONSHIP TOGETHER; and most importantly we supported one another.

“Phoenix ahhhhhh I’m ready and #ALLIN! To my new teammates and coaches: you’re getting all of me. My hunger, my desire, my competitive spirit. Every. Damn. Possession. X-Factor, I can’t wait to be on your side and bring another championship back to The Valley. Let’s get it!”

The Sky are trading Kahleah Copper to the Mercury in exchange for players and draft pick compensation, per @Khristina

Throwback to this legendary Finals photo of her vs. PHX 🤯🔥 pic.twitter.com/akYT0q6qLX
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 6, 2024

Copper averaged a career best 18.7pts per game last season to go along with 4.4 rebounds and 2 assists per contest with the Sky. She’ll now go from a Chicago franchise mired in a rebuild following its WNBA championship, to Phoenix who are seemingly going “all-in” in an attempt to maximize what’s left of their championship window with Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner.

Along with Copper, the Mercury have also brought in Rebecca Allen, and Natasha Cloud to pair with their veteran duo and Sophie Cunningham.

The Mercury finished a league worst 9-31 in 2023, largely attributable to the tumultuous season both on and off the court with the return of Griner following her Russian detention, firing of head coach Vanessa Nygaard and several roster shakeups due to purported locker room unrest. Despite all that, the team was forced to watch both the Indiana Fever and Los Angeles Sparks jump ahead of them in the WNBA draft lottery.

Despite a loaded draft class which could feature the likes of all-world talent Caitlin Clark, Phoenix evidently felt the need to surround 41 year old franchise icon Diana Taurasi with WNBA ready talent as opposed to taking a high end rookie this spring.

With the deal now official, here’s what the first round of the 2024 WNBA Draft, will look like on Monday, April 15th.