In perhaps the most surprising move of the WNBA offseason, the Chicago Sky traded star guard Kahleah Copper to the Phoenix Mercury, the teams announced Tuesday.
Along with Copper, the Mercury also acquired forward Morgan Bertsch, a third-round pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft who debuted for the Sky last season, averaging 4.4 points and 1.7 rebounds per game. The Sky get forwards Brianna Turner and Michaela Onyenwere and four draft picks: the Mercury’s No. 3 pick in 2024, a first-round pick in 2026, a second-round pick in 2025 and the rights to a 2026 second-round pick swap with Phoenix.
“The opportunity to add a player of Kahleah’s caliber in the prime of her career is rare,” Mercury general manager Nick U’Ren said in a statement. “She is one of the most dynamic and athletic players in our league, with a true knack for scoring the ball. She is also a fierce competitor, proven champion and the ultimate two-way player, who can disrupt the game on the defensive end with her length and activity.”
Copper, the 2021 WNBA Finals MVP, had agreed to a two-year extension with Chicago this past September, forgoing free agency and solidifying herself as the centerpiece of the Sky moving forward. Copper was then part of the introductory announcement for first-year head coach Teresa…
