WNBA Rumors: Sky Trade Kahleah Copper to Mercury; Star Won 2021 WNBA Finals MVP Award

The Chicago Sky reportedly traded guard-forward Kahleah Copper to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for undisclosed compensation on Tuesday.

Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports TV reported the news, noting the deal is "in exchange for players and draft pick compensation." Copper won the 2021 WNBA Finals MVP with the Sky and is a three-time All-Star.

The 29-year-old spent the last seven seasons in Chicago after starting her career with the Washington Mystics. Cooper averaged 18.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game last season and Chicago signed her to a two-year contract extension in September. It wasn't as if she was viewed as a likely trade candidate.

"Chicago has been everything I could've asked for and more over the past seven seasons," Copper said in a statement at the time of the extension. "This is where I've grown as a player, as a person, and where I'm proud to say I've become one with this community. This city doesn't cut corners and pours everything it has into each day. That's a standard I'm proud to upkeep. I'm ready and excited to grow and build on my legacy here and give this city, our fans, my teammates, coaches, and the entire Sky organization everything I have to bring another championship back home."

The Mercury will be responsible for paying Copper's $241,984 salary next season and $248,134 in 2025.

Phoenix is coming off a wildly disappointing 2023 season that saw the organization finish 9-31 and fail to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2008. The Mercury have entirely too much talent on their roster to perform at such a low level, and Copper will be joining a veteran-laden roster featuring Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi.

Skylar Diggins-Smith left for the Seattle Storm this offseason, so Copper will likely move into the 2 slot while Taurasi retakes the mantle as the full-time point guard.