Kahleah Copper news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Kahleah Copper is playing for Team USA at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Berlin.
Her bench moment with Caitlin Clark and Jackie Young is what pushed her name.
Background
Copper, a Phoenix Mercury veteran, was named to Team USA's starting lineup for the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Berlin, alongside 2024 Olympic gold medalists Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. The team finished the group stage with a 3-0 record and moved into the knockout round. Away from the court, her girlfriend Michaela Mabrey posted a lighthearted message about her on Threads, and a TNT camera caught a brief bench exchange involving Copper and Caitlin Clark during the win over Czechia.
How it unfolded
- Sep 4, 2026Team USA opens the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup with a win; Copper is in the starting lineup alongside Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart.
- Sep 6, 2026Copper plays in Team USA's group-stage game against Italy in Berlin.
- recentlyDuring the win over Czechia, Clark hits a late fourth-quarter three and TNT cameras show Jackie Young appearing to tell Copper, "You better clap." Copper finishes the group-stage game with five points and five rebounds.
- recentlyTeam USA completes the group stage 3-0 and advances to the knockout round.
Who’s saying what
- Public
- Copper's girlfriend Michaela Mabrey shared a lighthearted Threads message praising her appearance while responding to a fan, and Copper replied with a joke of her own.
Still unverified
The exact wording and intent of the bench exchange between Jackie Young and Copper is based on what TNT cameras appeared to show; the tournament statistics listed on Copper's FIBA player profile (5.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 0.3 assists) are not tied to a specific date in the material.