Kahleah Copper Earns 5th WNBA All-Star Nod

Kahleah Copper, a former Rutgers women's basketball standout, has secured her fifth career WNBA All-Star selection. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert named Copper as an injury replacement for the upcoming 2026 All-Star Game, scheduled for July 25th in Chicago. This marks a significant achievement for the Phoenix Mercury guard-forward, who is in her third season with the team and eleventh overall in the league.

Copper is currently having a strong 2026 season, averaging 20.5 points per game, which places her seventh in the WNBA and is the second-highest scoring average of her career. She has started all 27 games for the Mercury, demonstrating consistent performance. Her accolades extend beyond individual scoring, including a 2021 WNBA championship and Finals MVP with the Chicago Sky, an All-WNBA Second Team selection in 2024, and an Olympic gold medal.

Copper's journey began at Rutgers, where she was a four-year player under coach C. Vivian Stringer. She finished her collegiate career with 1,872 points, ranking third in program history. As a senior, she averaged 17.7 points and eight rebounds, earning Second Team All-Big Ten honors. Copper also earned MVP honors after leading Rutgers to the 2014 WNIT championship.