Kahleah Copper is an Olympic gold medalist, a Finals MVP — and as it currently stands, the WNBA’s second-leading scorer this season.
LeBron James serves as inspiration for Kahleah Copper: ‘That’s my GOAT’
After Mercury star Kahleah Copper exploded for 29 points in a win over the Sky, she said that she hoped to continue improving as a passer and that she learned from LeBron James during the Olympics.
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Noa Dalzell is a senior writer covering the WNBA and all of women’s basketball for Breakaway, SB Nation’s women’s sports vertical, as well as the Celtics for CelticsBlog.
But, she’s nowhere near content with her career accomplishments, and reflected postgame on how she’s looking to further improve as a playmaker and model her game after LeBron James.
“That’s my GOAT,” Copper said. “That’s who I want to be like.”
Copper said the Paris Olympics gave her the opportunity to connect with NBA players also representing USA Basketball, and that she discussed with them how they prepare for different matchups and styles of play.
LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and MVP of the 2024 men’s Olympic tournament, served as a focal point of these discussions, Copper said.
“He’s just incredible,” she said. “Oh man, he’s a very tough cover – one, you can’t guard him one-on-one. And then, you bring in help, and he’s finding shooters.”
In her first game back in Chicago since she was traded from Sky in February, Copper donned her old Sky jersey pregame before lighting up her former team for 29 points on 12-19 shooting. The Mercury beat the Sky 85-65 to improve to 14-12 on the season.
The victory marked her 17th game this year with more than 20 points. It also comes on the heels of an Olympic run in which she emerged as one of Team USA’s most impactful players. Copper’s storyline at the Olympics was remarkable — after receiving a DNP earlier in group play, she was pivotal down the stretch the gold medal game, leading the way 10 fourth quarter points.
A proven prolific scorer, next on Copper’s list is improving as a playmaker. She is averaging 2.2 assists per game this season, a figure that’s above her career average of 1.4, but still less than some of the league’s other top scorers.
“As I continue to grow, it is just going to get harder,” Copper said. “Teams are scouting and everything. So, if I’m able to pass, find my teammates when they’re open, that will alleviate the pressure off of me.”
She also wants to continue excelling on the defensive side of the ball.
“Man, I gotta get a Defensive Player of the Year,” she said. “I mean, come on, it’s never ending for me, anyways. The sky is really the limit.”
