Kahleah Copper returned to the WNBA with an Olympic gold medal and a profane moniker, courtesy of A’ja Wilson. She live up to both in her first game back with the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday.
The All-Star guard posted 29 points in an 85-65 Mercury win over the Chicago Sky to open the post-Olympic portion of the WNBA season. Brittney Griner, another of the Olympians, contributed 23 points on 10-of-12 shooting with nine rebounds and six assists.
It was going to be a big night for Copper regardless, as she was returning to Wintrust Arena for the first time since being traded to Phoenix after seven seasons in Chicago. She was welcomed with a tribute video, honoring a tenure that saw her win WNBA Finals MVP in 2021, and was addressed by her requested title of “MF Olympic gold medalist.”
Copper became a Team USA hero less than a week prior to the game, when she provided a vital 12 points, all in the fourth quarter, in a 67-66 win over France in the gold medal game. The performance didn’t just give the Americans their eighth straight women’s basketball gold, it pushed all of Team USA into a tie with China for the gold medal lead at 40. With more total medals, it was the U.S. at the top of the worldwide medal table.
So Copper already has plenty to celebrate, but with plenty still to do in the coming weeks. The Mercury came out of the break with a 13-12 record, with the hope they can replicate their 10-game winning streak out of the Olympic break in 2021.
Thursday was a good first step, with another test against the Indiana Fever scheduled for Friday.
Lynx return with win over the Mystics
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Lynx welcomed back two major members of Team USA: head coach Cheryl Reeve and All-Star forward Napheesa Collier.
Minnesota needed a fourth-quarter surge to dispatch the now 6-20 Washington Mystics, winning the final frame 21-10 in a 79-68 win. Collier posted a game-high 17 points and 12 rebounds.
The Lynx improved their record to a Western Conference-best 18-8 with the win, and will face the Mystics again Saturday, that time on the road.