In her rookie season with the Mystics, 6’1” G/F Kahleah Copper has already made a big impact. Averaging 17.2 mpg, 6.1 ppg, and 3.3 rpg, Copper has started in three of the 19 games she has played. Her athleticism and aggressiveness have made her a player to watch, despite her limited experience in the league.
After drafting her seventh overall in the 2016 WNBA Draft, head coach Mike Thibault commented, “She improved each year at Rutgers. Her length and quickness have helped her become a very good defender. She has always been good in transition and has been a very good rebounder. This past season, she added the three point shot to her game and shot a very good overall percentage from both inside and outside the three point line.”
Listen to Kahleah speak about her arrival to the Mystics here.
Copper was also honored with a spot on the 2016 USA Women’s Select Team along with teammate Stefanie Dolson. She trained at the end of the July alongside the 2016 USA Women’s National Team before playing in an exhibition match between the two teams on July 25.
“It’s going to be a learning experience to train alongside the best of the best. I’m excited,” Copper said of the selection.
Copper played college ball at Rutgers, where she scored 1,872 points over four years, putting her third in Rutgers’ all-time scoring leaders behind Cappie Pondexter and Sue Wicks. After being honored as part of the BIG EAST All-Freshman team, Copper went on to be named Second Team All-Big Ten in her junior and senior year. She was also named to the Drysdale Award Watch List after scoring in double figures in 30 games. For three consecutive years, she led the Scarlet Knights in scoring.
How about off the court?
While Copper has spent her life on the East Coast, having grown up in Philadelphia and attending college in New Jersey, this year with the Mystics is her first experience living in Washington, D.C. She admits she has not yet been able to explore the whole city, as her love of sleeping often fills her days off.
Check out a rapid-fire questionnaire with Kahleah here.
After her professional basketball career, she is interested in becoming an FBI agent. She majored in Criminal Justice at Rutgers. Copper chose to go to college close to her mother, who was undergoing treatment for breast cancer at the time. As the youngest in her family, she felt it was important to stay close to home with the woman she looks up to most.
Favorites:
- TV Show: SpongeBob SquarePants
- Movie: Friday
- Color: Blue
- Animal: Dog
- Food: Chicken
- Sport (besides basketball): Track
- Singer/Artist: R. Kelly
- City: L.A.
Keep up with Kahleah on Twitter @kaleahcopper and on Instagram @_KLC215.