The Phoenix Mercury’s highly anticipated new era will begin without its centerpiece. Star guard Kahleah Copper will miss the start of the 2025 WNBA season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on her left knee, the team confirmed Saturday. She is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks.
The news is pivotal for a franchise undergoing a full-scale transformation. Following Diana Taurasi’s retirement and Brittney Griner’s departure to the Atlanta Dream, Copper was the lone returning starter from the 2024 campaign and was expected to lead a retooled Mercury roster headlined by offseason additions Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally.
Phoenix Mercury’s Core Takes Early Hit
Copper, 30, was Mercury’s leading scorer last season, averaging 21.1 points per game while earning All-WNBA honors. She participated in the Unrivaled winter league but appeared in just seven games due to a right leg issue.
Though she had been considered day-to-day entering training camp, further evaluation revealed the need for surgery on her left knee, forcing her to miss at least the first month of regular-season action.
“Early in training camp, she was having back pain, and then there was a situation where she hurt her knee in practice, and then she had it scoped, and here we are,” head coach Nate Tibbetts said.
The injury leaves a sizable gap in Phoenix’s offense and puts added pressure on Thomas and Sabally, who were acquired to form a new “big three” with Copper.
The Mercury’s remaining rotation features a mix of rookies, recent signees, and veterans like Sami Whitcomb and Kalani Brown, all of whom will be called on to produce in Copper’s absence. However, without Copper in the mix, more will be needed for the rest of the rotation from top to bottom.
Uncertain Start to a New Chapter for Kahleah Copper
The Mercury’s 2025 campaign appeared set to be one of the most intriguing in the WNBA, but has taken a hit. Taurasi’s retirement closed the book on a two-decade run that included three championships and 10 All-WNBA First-Team selections. Griner’s emotional exit in free agency also added to the uncertainty around the team’s identity moving forward.
Phoenix responded with bold offseason moves, acquiring Thomas from Connecticut and Sabally from Dallas, both multi-time All-Stars with playoff pedigree. The expectation was that Copper, entering her ninth WNBA season, would anchor the backcourt while Thomas and Sabally shouldered frontcourt responsibilities.
The Mercury will need to stay afloat without their leading scorer during what could be a critical stretch. The WNBA’s landscape is more competitive than ever, and an early-season stumble could have lasting playoff implications. An early-season struggle could put Phoenix in a situation of being forced to attempt to dig out of a hole after Copper returns.
Still, the team believes its restructured core will find its rhythm once Copper returns. In the meantime, role players like Whitcomb, Alexis Prince, and Sevgi Uzun, among others, must help bridge the gap. If Phoenix can hold down the fort, it’ll likely be partly due to some role players stepping up.
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