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WNBA Finals MVP Kahleah Copper trusted the grind, and it paid off

(Courtesy of adidas)

Kahleah Copper believes in the process.

After winning a WNBA championship with the Chicago Sky and being named Finals MVP, Copper is on top of the world. And yet, the 27-year-old star still finds joy in the grind. As the party fades and the enormity of the last year begins to sink in, Copper is just starting to reflect on how exactly she got here.

“The most rewarding aspect of it is just me looking back on my process, from being traded from D.C. to coming to Chicago,” Copper tells Just Women’s Sports.

“Even throughout our season, we hit adversity early … we won seven, we lost seven, but for us to really come together and really lock in and heighten our sense of urgency once the playoffs hit and to win a championship, it’s like you look back on your process and you’re like, ‘I wouldn’t change anything, because things wouldn’t be the same.’”

Drafted seventh overall by the Washington Mystics in 2016, Copper started in just three games for the team before being traded to Chicago in 2017. Copper struggled to find playing time in her first few seasons with the Sky, as well, starting 10 games in her first season and just two in her second before exclusively coming off the bench in 2019.

The 2020 bubble season changed everything for the guard, as she started every game alongside veterans Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley, averaging a career-high 14.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

While it’s hard to view Copper now as anything but unstoppable following her dominant playoffs performance, her rise through the ranks was never promised or prophesied. But that didn’t stop Copper from believing it would happen.

“I trusted myself and I trusted the grind and trusted I would be rewarded,” she says. “I think that that was really what it was for me, is just constantly, constantly putting my head down and keep putting the work in so that when I was given the opportunity, I would never look back.”

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(Courtesy of adidas)

The stay-the-course mentality that helped Copper earn a spot on the Sky’s starting five is also what propelled her to a WNBA trophy, an achievement she attributes to the team’s collective focus and work ethic.

“I think those single-elimination games were so important for us. Like, so important,” she says.

The Sky, coming into the playoffs as the sixth seed, had to dispatch both the Dallas Wings and the Minnesota Lynx in first- and second-round single-elimination games before their semifinal series against Connecticut.

“I have not seen our sense of urgency hit that new height all season,” she says. “Once we got to the semifinals, we treated those games like single-elimination games. We were so locked in. That’s why I appreciate the single-elimination games — the sixth seed didn’t matter to us.”

Copper says after losing Game 2 of the semifinals to the Sun, the Sky promised themselves they would not go back to Connecticut. She says that clinching the “very tough, very physical” series against the No. 1 seed prepared the team for the Finals.

Standing between Chicago and the WNBA trophy was another tough opponent in the Phoenix Mercury. In a contentious series that spurred rumblings of a new WNBA rivalry, Copper sparred with Phoenix’s Sophie Cunningham in a now-infamous moment that inspired many memes on social media. Though Copper calls the tussle “nothing serious,” she says this type of competitiveness is ultimately good for the WNBA.

“I appreciate the league wanting to create rivalries, because I think that it’s important for women to be able to be passionate and to be feisty and for that be OK,” Copper says. “We are very competitive, we are the best at what we do, so those moments — they happen. The fans love it. They love us to be passionate about it. And those things happen within the game, and I think it’s good for women’s basketball.”

After clinching the Finals trophy, Copper immortalized the photo, selling merch emblazoned with the iconic staredown. “Everything is not always pretty,” she says. “We are gonna be feisty out there, and those things happen, so I think that it’s important for the league to continue to let us be us and to allow us to be passionate.”

Copper’s first round of T-shirts and sweatshirts quickly sold out, speaking to the rising star’s popularity among the Chicago fan base. The love is mutual, with Copper crediting the raucous crowd at Wintrust Arena as a critical factor in the Sky’s championship run.

“The fans, they really showed out,” she says. “I think that having Game 3 and Game 4 sold out was huge. I think they really came out to support us.”

The Sky have been the toast of the town ever since, with fans flocking to downtown Chicago for the team’s championship parade, something Copper doesn’t take lightly.

“I think we got so much love from the city. Riding through the city, you saw little kids coming out of school, little babies come out of daycare, older people were out there, there were people out there with walkers. Like, the city really came out,” recalls Copper. “And it was a Tuesday. People had work. So for the city to really come out and show love like that, it’s like wow. Thank you, Chicago.”

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Ruthy Hebard, Candace Parker and Kahleah Copper (Courtesy of adidas)

While the city has embraced her, Copper’s future with the Sky isn’t set in stone as she enters the first unrestricted free agency of her career. The guard can’t definitively say if she plans to be back in the Windy City next year, but she does admit she’s approaching free agency with an open mind and is interested in seeing what’s out there.

“I love Chicago, so I’m just gonna enjoy it for that matter, just enjoy the free agency and just make good decisions,” she says.

No matter where she ends up, Copper’s role on the court is likely to evolve. Just as Candace Parker filled a leadership role that was previously missing in Chicago — bringing something Copper calls “that been there, done that” mentality — the 27-year-old has also now been there and done that, climbing to the top of the WNBA as Finals MVP.

“I was just a sponge, and [Parker] was just giving me everything she had every single day, just pouring into me. I think it’s my due diligence to do the same for whoever next year — me giving it to the next player in order for us to be successful,” Copper says.

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(Courtesy of adidas)

The Philadelphia native isn’t just interested in leading on the court; she’s also committed to giving back to the game of basketball in the offseason. Through her partnership with adidas, Copper has fully outfitted her free annual basketball camp in her North Philadelphia neighborhood.

“This year, adidas really stepped up. They really took care of me,” she says. “They were able to provide basketballs, they were able to provide sneakers, water bottles, gift bags, T-shirts, socks — I was able to provide these kids with a lot of things.”

Copper’s hope is that, through her partnership with adidas, she can continue to support young, aspiring athletes coming out of her hometown.

“I think it’s just important for me to never forget where I came from, and to be able to inspire the little girls that are here so that when they grow up and they make it, they’ll want to do the same thing for the next little girl,” she says.

A lot has changed for Copper in the last year — making the All-Star team, winning a league championship and taking home the Finals MVP. One thing that remains constant is her next-up mentality, whether on the court or in her hometown of Philadelphia. While she already has her sights set on earning a Defensive Player of the Year nod, Copper is also focusing on enjoying the moment and appreciating where the easily-praised, often-difficult “process” has gotten her.

“It’s just finally starting to sink in now,” she says. “Like, wow, we won a WNBA championship. Wow, I was Finals MVP.”

Clare Brennan is an Associate Editor at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @clare_brennan2.

Tennis Stars Hit the Grass Court as Wimbledon Kicks Off

Canada's Carson Branstine faces world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the first round of the 2025 Wimbledon Grand Slam.
The 2025 Wimbledon Championships kicked off early Monday morning in London. (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

The third Grand Slam of 2025 is officially underway, as the world's top tennis stars hit the grass courts in London for the annual Wimbledon Championships on Monday.

World No. 16 Barbora Krejčíková enters as the Slam's reigning champion, with all of the WTA's current Top 10 — none of whom have ever won at Wimbledon — looking to dethrone the 2024 victor.

No. 3 Jessica Pegula looks to be an early frontrunner, as the US star picked up steam following her defeat of No. 4 Iga Świątek 6-4, 7-5 in Saturday's championship match of the 2025 Bad Homburg Open, a Wimbledon tune-up tournament.

A 2023 Wimbledon quarterfinalist, Pegula has already earned three titles this year, gaining significant momentum as she hunts a career-first Grand Slam trophy.

"[Pegula has] an amazing game, and showed it throughout the tournament," Świątek said following Saturday's loss. "Hopefully, we will have many more finals together."

The first day of 2025 Wimbledon action saw No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka cruise through her first-round match against Canada's No. 194 Carson Branstine in straight sets, while No. 8 Madison Keys battled to a narrow three-set victory over Romania's No. 58 Elena-Gabriela Ruse.

Fellow US contender No. 12 Amanda Anisimova played the most dominant first-round match of the Slam, ousting Kazakhstan's No. 33 Yulia Putintseva 6-0, 6-0 to open her tournament run.

Italy's No. 5 Jasmine Paolini, a 2024 Wimbledon finalist, also kicked off her 2025 run with a win, downing Latvia's No. 402 Anastasija Sevastova in three sets on Monday afternoon.

Pegula will open her campaign against Italy's No. 116 Elisabetta Cocciaretto on the second day of first-round action at 6 AM ET, with Świątek, 2025 French Open champ No. 2 Coco Gauff, and 2024 Wimbledon quarterfinalist No. 10 Emma Navarro also rounding out Tuesday's bill.

How to watch the 2025 Wimbledon Championships

The 2025 Wimbledon women's tournament runs through the July 12th championship.

Live continuous coverage of the London Grand Slam airs on ESPN.

Napheesa Collier Returns From Injury as Lynx Top the WNBA Standings

Naphees Collier high-fives her Minnesota Lynx teammates after a 2025 WNBA win.
The return of star Napheesa Collier boosted the league-leading Minnesota Lynx. (Ellen Schmidt/Getty Image)

The Minnesota Lynx are back on the prowl, after the return of MVP frontrunner Napheesa Collier from injury fueled the WNBA-leaders to two straight weekend wins.

Minnesota first outlasted the No. 4 Atlanta Dream 96-92 in overtime on Friday before thumping the last-place Connecticut Sun 102-63 on Sunday, with Collier racking up 49 points over the two-game span.

Collier's bounce-back couldn't have come at a better time, as the WNBA announced Sunday that the Lynx forward will captain the 2025 All-Star Game alongside Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark.

"It's really cool," Collier said of the news. "I went from never being a starter to captain."

Both Collier and Clark will have an early chance to test their leadership skills in Tuesday's 2025 WNBA Commissioner's Cup championship game, when the defending champs Minnesota Lynx will take on first-time finalists Indiana.

With a second straight title on the line, red-hot Minnesota hold the advantage coming into the Commissioner's Cup final, but a healthy Clark could make all the difference for up-and-down No. 8 Indiana.

Meanwhile in the WNBA standings, as the Lynx continue to hold court at the top, this weekend saw the Mercury overtake the Liberty at No. 2, thanks in large part to Phoenix's 106-91 Friday victory over New York.

Along with Sunday's 90-81 loss to the Dream, the reigning champs have dropped five of their last seven games, as now-No. 3 New York struggles without injured center Jonquel Jones.

How to watch the 2025 WNBA Commissioner's Cup final

While the other 11 league teams rest until Thursday, the Minnesota Lynx and Indiana Fever will take Tuesday's court in a battle for the 2025 WNBA Commissioner's Cup.

The in-season tournament's grand finale will tip off at 8 PM ET, with live coverage on Prime.

USWNT Tops Ireland 4-0 in Back-to-Back Shutout Wins

USWNT attacker Alyssa Thompson celebrates her goal with teammate Emma Sears during a 2025 friendly against Ireland.
The USWNT won their second friendly against Ireland 4-0 on Sunday. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)

The world No. 1 USWNT earned another lopsided result against No. 25 Ireland on Sunday, handing the Girls in Green a second straight 4-0 loss despite extensive lineup changes on both sides.

Veteran forward Lynn Biyendolo opened the scoring in her first match as USWNT captain, followed by first-ever senior team goals from both debutant defender Izzy Rodriguez and attacker Yazmeen Ryan.

Second-half USWNT sub Alyssa Thompson found the back of the net in the 86th minute to finish padding the 4-0 scoreline over Ireland.

With one more friendly against No. 8 Canada set for Wednesday, USWNT head coach Emma Hayes rotated all 11 starters on Sunday, trusting bubble players to overcome inexperience to produce a result.

"The level has been set to be relentless in the pursuit of performing and progressing," Hayes said after the game. "It's not about understanding everything in our playbook, but developing the confidence and bravery to deliver."

The victory also marked the USWNT's 600th program win, with midfielder Sam Meza joining Rodriguez in picking up the 23rd and 24th first caps of the Emma Hayes era.

"I feel like everyone is not only trusting the process, but carrying out all the things we ask them to do," said Hayes of her new additions. "Everybody showed themselves so well."

Though the US keeps stretching its depth and coming out on top, the need to develop strong connections on the pitch could force tough roster decisions in the future.

How to watch the USWNT vs. Canada on Wednesday

The USWNT will cap their three-friendly summer break against rivals Canada on Wednesday at 7:30 PM ET.

Live coverage of the clash in Washington, DC, will air on TNT.

WNBA Announces Expansion to Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert smiles during a 2024 Finals press conference.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert plans to grow the league to 18 teams by 2030. (Elsa/Getty Images)

The WNBA made a splash on Monday morning, announcing an expansion plan that will see the league officially grow to 18 teams by 2030, with new franchises joining from Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia.

Subject to approval by the WNBA and NBA Boards of Governors, the league expects to add Cleveland in 2028, with Detroit following in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030.

With existing NBA ownership groups backing all three cities, the league chose the trio because of "market viability, committed long-term ownership groups, potential for significant local fan, corporate, media, and city and state support, arena and practice facilities, and community commitment to advancing the sport, among other factors."

Notably, while Monday's news will bring a WNBA team to Philadelphia for the first time, the announcement represents a return for the league to both Cleveland and Detroit.

The Ohio city hosted one of the league's inaugural teams, the Rockers, from 1997 to 2003, while the Detroit Shock joined the WNBA in 1998, eventually relocating to Tulsa in 2010 before becoming the Dallas Wings in 2016.

Monday's WNBA expansion plan also follows the already announced incoming teams in Toronto and Portland, both set to tip off next season, as well as 2025 newcomer Golden State.

Each of the three incoming clubs in Monday's announcement paid a $250 million expansion fee — five times the $50 million that Golden State paid in October 2023.

"This historic expansion is a powerful reflection of our league's extraordinary momentum, the depth of talent across the game, and the surging demand for investment in women's professional basketball," said commissioner Cathy Engelbert. "I am deeply grateful for our new owners… for their belief in the WNBA's future and their commitment to building thriving teams that will energize and inspire their communities."

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