Fresh off their first WNBA championship in franchise history, the Chicago Sky have made sure that one of the key figures in their postseason run will be staying in town. On Thursday, they officially agreed to a deal with reigning Finals MVP Kahleah Copper.
“I can’t wait to be back, especially with our core returning,” Copper said. “We want to run it back and we know it won’t be easy, but with all of us 100% committing and making sacrifices for each other, I really like our chances. Chi-town let’s get it!”
Once best known for being part of the blockbuster Elena Delle Donne trade in 2017, Copper made a big jump in the bubble in 2020 and was even better last season, when she made the first All-Star Game of her career. On a team that featured stars like Candace Parker and Courtney Vandersloot, and one of the best 3-point shooters in the league in Allie Quigley, the leading scorer was Copper at 14.4 points per game.
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But it was the playoffs where Copper really made a name for herself. With every game on national TV, casual fans across the country got a chance to see what Sky fans saw every night. She did a little bit of everything in the playoffs, putting up 17.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game, while winning over everyone outside of Phoenix with her passionate play. Her viral stare-down of Mercury guard Sophie Cunningham notably became everything from a meme to a t-shirt design.
As a result of her efforts, Copper was named Finals MVP and earned a big payday. Despite over half a dozen players hitting free agency this winter, including Vandersloot and Quigley, the Sky decided to place the core designation on Copper. That would not have happened prior to the postseason, and tells you everything you need to know about Copper’s importance to the team — both now and in the future.
