Guard Kahleah Copper becoming ‘star’ in her role with Sky

On another team, coach James Wade believes Sky guard/forward Kahleah Copper would be a starter.

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Kahleah Copper learned her tenaciousness when she played at Rutgers.

Chicago Sky

On another team, coach James Wade believes Sky guard Kahleah Copper would be a starter.

But with three All-Star guards in the starting lineup, Copper is perfectly fine being the sixth woman off the bench. In fact, she takes pride in being the leader of the Sky’s reserves.

“I tell the bench every game, we win games when we contribute and when we come in the game,” Copper said Wednesday before the Sky’s 77-76 victory against the Dream at Wintrust Arena. “We want to not just maintain the level of energy, but we want to bring it up a notch and make it easier for the starters when they come back in.”

Copper has flourished off the bench during her four seasons in the WNBA. She boasts the perfect blend of athleticism, skill and tenaciousness. 

She is a pest on defense and a menace on offense. Copper constantly disrupts opponents’ passing lanes and stands her ground in the paint. And she’s not timid when the ball is in her hands. 

Copper’s fearlessness on the court stems from her time at Rutgers.

“Coach [C. Vivian] Stringer instilled this fire and passion into me, and it’s translated into my game,” said Copper, whom the Mystics picked seventh overall in the 2016 draft. “And it’s just how I carry myself on the court.”

Copper has been on a tear of late. She has scored at least nine points in seven of the last eight games. She had 10 points and two rebounds against Atlanta.  

“She’s important because she’s probably one of the most athletic guards in the league with her ability to cover ground and because of her attention to detail on the defensive end,” Wade said.

But Copper means more to the Sky (10-8) than simply position depth. 

She brings immediate relief and a burst of energy whenever she checks in. Guard Diamond DeShields said she feeds off Copper’s fire and urgency.  

“I love it,” said DeShields, who scored a team-high 22 points and had eight rebounds. “She comes in and does what she did today, and she’s been consistent all season. She picks us up. It makes us raise our level, and we need her. She’s just as important as anyone on our team. Everybody has their role, and she’s a star in her role, so, I mean, she’s huge.”

Wade said Copper sets the standard for everyone on the team.

“When you think of the Chicago Sky, she’s the type of person that you think of,” Wade said. “Her game, the way she plays, the passion she plays with, she’s the face of how we want to play. So it’s been great having her energy off the bench and what she’s done for us. We’re excited that she’s realizing her potential on the floor and playing to it.”

Copper said she’ll only get better as her self-belief continues to rise.

“I’ve gotten a lot more confident,” Copper said. “I’ve put in a lot more work, and the results are showing now.”

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