Mercury reload from WNBA Finals loss, talk 2026 disrespect, motivation

Yahoo Sports2h ago20 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

Kahleah Copper reflects on the Phoenix Mercury's WNBA Finals loss and the motivation driving her return for the 2026 season. She emphasizes the need to overcome disrespect and aims for a championship comeback.

Key points

Kahleah Copper reflects on the Mercury's WNBA Finals loss
Copper describes playing in Phoenix as 'paradise'
Mercury aim to overcome disrespect for the 2026 season
Phoenix Mercury were swept by the Las Vegas Aces in the Finals

Phoenix MercuryLas Vegas AcesKahleah Copper

Mercury reload from WNBA Finals loss, talk 2026 disrespect, motivation

Kahleah Copper is familiar with the euphoria of winning a WNBA title and the gut-punch of losing one.

Five months after the Phoenix Mercury were eliminated in a four-game sweep by the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA Finals, the 11-year veteran Copper spoke at the Mercury's media day on May 6 at Mortgage Matchup Center about her third season in Phoenix.

She described playing in Phoenix as "paradise," and was asked by a reporter if this past offseason drove her to return to the Finals.

"I just got swept, right? We just got swept," Copper bluntly replied. "You would have some motivation, too, right?”

After the sweep, Copper corralled her teammates into a huddle on their home court — coincidentally, the same court she earned the 2021 Finals MVP after leading the Chicago Sky over Phoenix — so the Mercury would be driven by that agony after their unexpected run.

Mercury third-year coach Nate Tibbetts said a return to the Finals is the goal, despite being placed at a modest No. 7 in ESPN's WNBA preseason power team rankings.