On another team, coach James Wade believes Sky guard Kahleah Copper would be a starter.
But with three All-Star guards in the Sky’s 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 secondary unit.
“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 over the Dream at Wintrust Arena. “We want to not 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 in her role off the bench over the last four seasons. She posses the perfect blend of athleticism, skill and tenaciousness.
Copper is a menace on defense and a pest on offense. She constantly disrupts opponent’s passing lanes and stands her ground in the paint. And she’s not timid when the ball is in her possession.
Copper’s fearlessness on the court stems from her time at Rutgers.
“Coach [Vivian] Stringer has instilled this fire and this 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 as of late. She’s scored at least nine points in seven of the last eight games. She had 10 points and two rebounds in Wednesday’s win.
“She’s important because she’s probably one of the most athletic guards in the league because of her ability to cover ground and attention to detail on the defensive end,” Wade said.
But Copper means more to the Sky than position depth.
Copper brings immediate relief and a burst of energy whenever she checks into the game. 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 Wednesday. “When 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 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 confidence continues to soar.
“I’ve gotten a lot more confident,” Copper said. “I’ve put in a lot more work and the results are showing now.”
