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Kahleah Copper focuses on bringing another title to the Chicago Sky after a successful year as ‘worldwide MVP’

Few players in WNBA history have experienced Kahleah Copper’s success. If women’s basketball had a triple crown, her last year easily would qualify.Between the start of last season and her return to the Sky on May 22, Copper became a first-time WNBA All-Star, a WNBA Finals MVP, and a Spanish league and EuroLeague MVP. She also led Perfumerías Avenida to its eighth Spanish league title, her second championship in eight months. It’s no wonder Chicago Sky teammate Candace Parker refers to Copper as the “worldwide MVP.”Advertisement“I don’t think there’s another WNBA player that had the resume she had over this past year,” said Ticha Penicheiro, Copper’s agent. “At the beginning of her career especially, she was always a team player. Sometimes you put your personal goals on the back burner, but now, I’m sure she’s checked off a lot of things on her list.”Copper has welcomed the fame that has come with winning a championship with the Sky. People come up to her at airports, and she was honored at City Hall in her hometown of Philadelphia in the offseason. She is soft-spoken, a direct contradiction to her tenacious nature on the court, but her calm demeanor lends itself to someone who can handle the newfound public attention.Advertisement“It’s something I’m embracing,” Copper said. “It’s cool. It’s what comes with winning.”Kahleah Copper heads out to receiver her championship ring commemorating the Chicago Sky’s 2021 WNBA title on May 24, 2022, at Wintrust Arena. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)Along with fame came more money.Copper doesn’t know how many deals she landed since helping the Sky win the WNBA title last season, but her marketing team made sure to strike while the iron was hot. She has been featured in commercials for Mountain Dew and Dick’s Sporting Goods, among others.She also signed a contract with Popeyes, which generated a lot of discussion on social media. Before reaching the deal, Copper’s team reached out to Kentucky Fried Chicken to see if it would be interested in partnering with her. Copper’s nickname is “KFC” — for Kahleah Freaking Copper — making the sides ideal partners. However, as Copper put it, KFC was “slacking,” so Popeyes and the Sky star eventually agreed to a deal.“Hopefully KFC will come back around because that is pretty fitting,” Penicheiro said.Outside of drawing more revenue from endorsements, Copper went into the offseason as a restricted free agent knowing she could demand a maximum contract. Most teams had cap space, and the Sky had only four players signed through the 2023 season.Sky coach/general manager James Wade made it clear as free agency began that re-signing Copper was a priority. He felt confident in the relationship he had with Copper and the culture the franchise had built.ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 18Standing underneath a newly unveiled WNBA championship banner, Chicago Sky players and coaches show off their 2021 championship rings on May 24, 2022, at Wintrust Arena. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)“When (the media) talks about free agency, they don’t think about player’s lives and relationships,” Wade said. “You have to change teammates and relationships you are invested in. (The Sky organization) is practically a family and we won a championship. (Copper has) accomplished a lot of things here and she saw her development and how she continues to build and build. I think that would be hard to leave.”AdvertisementThe Sky ended up applying the core-designation tag on Copper, meaning she couldn’t sign with another WNBA team and could return to the Sky on a one-year, $228,094 deal. Instead, the sides agreed to a two-year, $405,000 contract through 2023.“I thought, ‘Why not?’, ” Copper said when asked about taking a multiyear deal over the core designation offer. “This is my second home. I love it here. They believed in me and wanted to take care of me.”Copper has changed the complexion of the offense since returning from overseas — she missed the Sky’s first four games of the season. They were in the bottom half of the league in fast-break points before her arrival. Copper leads the league in the category while the Sky rank No. 4 over the last six games. Teams are still trying to figure out how to stop her in transition but have come up empty.Copper is averaging 12.4 points on 41.7% shooting and 5.4 rebounds in nine games for the Sky (9-4), who play host to the Atlanta Dream in a Commissioner’s Cup game Friday at Wintrust Arena.She maintains a day-to-day mentality — not letting the long term mar what is expected of her. She is focused on a championship and nothing else.Advertisement“I’m just trying to get better,” Copper said. “My mindset is the same: Never get too high or too low or complacent. Just continue to get better and try to reach new heights. We’re trying to repeat.”James Kay is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.