Kahleah Copper scored 29 points in her return to Chicago, Brittney Griner had 23 points, nine rebounds, six assists and five blocks and the Phoenix Mercury beat the short-handed Sky 85-65 on Thursday night at Wintrust Arena.
Copper was 12 of 19 from the field in her first game against the Sky since being traded in February. Copper, the 2021 WNBA Finals MVP, averaged 12 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists during her seven seasons with the Sky, including a career-best 18.7 points in 2023.
Copper scored 13 points in the first quarter on 5-of-8 shooting to help the Mercury build a 30-12 lead. Copper finished the half with 18 points and Griner added 12 as the Mercury extended their lead to 50-28 at the break. The Sky shot 11 of 41 (27%) in the first half, while the Mercury made 7 of 14 3-point attempts.
The Mercury led by double figures for the entire second half.
Diana Taurasi added 11 points for Phoenix (14-12). Taurasi and Copper each made three of the Mercury’s 12 3-pointers.
Griner became the first player in franchise history to record at least 20 points, five rebounds, five assists and five blocks in a game.
The Sky (10-15) were without leading scorer Chennedy Carter due to a non-COVID-19 illness. It also was the Sky’s first game without guard Marina Mabrey, who was traded to the Connecticut Sun before the Olympic break.
Dana Evans scored 14 points off the bench to lead the Sky. Rookie Angel Reese had 11 points and 15 rebounds for her 18th double-double, and Kamilla Cardoso added 10 points. Rachel Banham, in her first start for the Sky, was 3 of 10 from the field and finished with seven points. Moriah Jefferson also played her first game for Chicago.
With her eight offensive rebounds Thursday, Reese set a Sky record for the most in a season, passing Sylvia Fowles (117).
