Other than Kahleah Copper, the side has all-new faces coming into Phoenix. So, the Mercury franchise, after this mega shake-up, needed the new team to give a memorable response. But the team started on the wrong foot. You see, the Phoenix Mercury wrapped up their 2025 preseason with a 0–2 record. Those were close games – a one-point loss against the Aces and a five-point loss against the Valkyries. And now, for the season opener, they will be without their experienced offensive powerhouse Kahleah Copper.
Entering her ninth season in the WNBA, Copper was seen as the leader of the Phoenix Mercury side. No Diana Taurasi, no Brittany Griner – and the 2021 champion vowed to take the baton from those stars. She was ready for the challenge to be the face of the franchise. “I’m trying to do it my own way,” she said. But the recent injury news rocked the franchise, which was looking for a fresh start post-Taurasi era.
Coming back to the report, it states that an issue with her left knee will keep the star forward out of the game against the Seattle Storm. In the final pre-season game, a back injury kept Copper out, and now the knee issue complicates the return date of the player.
BREAKING NEWS: Phoenix Mercury wing Kahleah Copper (left knee) and forward Natasha Mack (back) are both OUT for Saturday’s season opener against the Seattle Storm.#WNBA #ValleyTogether
— Desert Wave Media (@DesertWaveCo) May 17, 2025
Earlier, the star was on the day-to-day evaluation, and coach Nate Tibbetts was hopeful to get his ‘center-piece’ ready for the season opener. During their final practice session, Nate was questioned about the availability of Copper. He said, “Good question. I hope so. We’ve got a couple of nagging things. A couple of players missed today’s practice, so we hope that happens, but I’m not sure.” A couple of nagging things and players missing are two ‘unwanted’ words in his answer.
Kahleah Copper played in eight seasons in the WNBA and won the title in 2021 with the Chicago Sky franchise. In her illustrious career, she was seen as one of the most consistent players on the court, hardly missing a game with any major injury. However, she did miss three games in September 2024 due to a back injury. “Yeah, I would say in the last 24 to 48 hours, you know. I — we — don’t think it’s anything serious.” Luckily, the season was nearing its conclusion, allowing extra rest for Copper.
Then, during Unrivaled, she again took a hit to her lower leg, missing the rest of the season and even the title game that Rose BC won. While she had assured fans that she was feeling great, they might not be too sure now. “Nah, I’m great. I feel great,” Copper said when asked about any lingering pain in her left leg.
And sadly, it doesn’t end with Copper’s absence from the team.
Kahleah Copper’s injury is just one of the issues that the Phoenix Mercury is facing at the moment
During her first season with the Mercury, the guard-forward clocked most minutes and averaged a career-high 21.1 points per game. She played in 37 games last season and recorded nine games with at least 30 points, while leading the league in usage rate at 31.1%. Missing her will be a big loss for Mercury. But they have one more confirmed absentee in the game – Natasha Mack.
The 6-foot-3 forward is struggling with a back injury, and her absence will impact Mercury’s rebounding numbers. Playing in her second season, Mack averaged 5 rebounds per game and was the team’s defensive backup. Forward Monique Akoa Makani is also questionable with a knee injury. And in the backcourt, Alexa Held is day-to-day with an ankle sprain. However, she might suit up against the storm, as Matt Cohen of Winsidr.com reported that Held is available for Saturday’s game against the Storm. Kitija Laksa is another name who is confirmed to be out because of a non-injury related issue.
Apart from these absentees, HC Nate has other concerns for the Mercury side – addressing the true guard issue. Analyzing the preseason games, Tibbetts said, “We didn’t shoot it great, but we got three pretty good guards that were out that have had really good camps for us. So we got to look at some different people, which is what you want in the preseason, and different lineups.”
Apart from Sami Whitcomb, the Mercury guard lineup is pretty young. Sevgi Uzun is the only other guard with WNBA experience on the roster. Without a true ball handler, the turnover numbers will be high, as seen in the game against the Valkyries. The Mercury had 20 turnovers in Sunday’s 84-79 preseason loss. All in all, the Mercury team struggled to maintain consistency on both ends, committing 38 turnovers across two games. So, fans would love to see their star players back on the court.
Remember what Tibbetts had said about the trio of Sabally, Thomas, and Copper? “They all complement each other pretty well,” Tibbetts said. “My feeling is, it’s pretty easy to play with [Thomas] because she does such a good job of passing, and we’re going to need Kah and Satou to shoot.” Yeah, Copper won’t be there to offer support with her shooting on Saturday as the game tips off at 10 p.m. ET. How the rest of the season will unfold is something that remains to be seen.
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