Rutgers alumna Kahleah Copper made her third WNBA All-Star game appearance this past weekend. In 15 minutes of action for winning side Team Stewart, the Chicago Sky star scored 16 points on 7 of 12 shooting along with 3 rebounds. She was 2 of 5 from three-point range. It was the most points she scored in her three All-Star game appearances.
The Scarlet Knight has become one of the best players in the league playing for the Sky. She has been able to maintain her high level of play in a season where she no longer has stars around her. Three Hall of Fame players are no longer on the Sky’s roster. They include Sky all-time assists leader Courtney Vandersloot, all-time points leader Allie Quigley and two-time WNBA MVP Candace Parker.
In a recent article in the Chicago Sun-Times, Copper admitted to the changes being a new obstacle for her to overcome.
‘‘Nothing can stop me,’’ Copper said. ‘‘There’s nothing that’s going to hold me back from getting the things that I really want. Adversity is a real thing, but to not put your head down or quit says a lot.’’
Copper is now the top priority on opponents scouting reports for the Sky. She faces double teams more than ever and has the weight of being the best player on her team now. However, she has continued to excel in her new role. Copper has also become a leader for the Sky.
In 19 games this season, Copper is averaging 17.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 31.5 minutes per contest. She is shooting 44.4% from the floor and an impressive 41.9% from three-point range. Copper has adapted from primarily attacking the rim to extending her scoring range. She has now become one of the best three-point shooters in the WNBA this season.
‘‘She has a lot of weapons,’’ Player development coach Jeff Pagliocca said. ‘‘She’s fiercely competitive, and you take that before anything. You take a player that works that way and is wired that way because the rest is easy if they are workers.’’
The Sky recently lost GM/head coach James Wade, who left for a job with the Toronto Raptors. He led the organization to a WNBA championship in 2021. That was Copper’s first All-Star season and became a star after being named the WNBA Finals MVP.
Copper continues to play hard and evolve in her eighth season. She remains fourth all-time in Rutgers history with 1,872 career points for the program.
‘‘This season, to do what I’m doing and be an All-Star is just another testament to who I am,’’ Copper said.
Rutgers fans can be proud of the type of player Copper continues to be in her professional career.
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