PHOENIX — The Phoenix Mercury’s matchup against the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday came with a bit of history, as two of the teams’ top scorers went on a scoring slugfest.
Jun 13, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum (10) drives past Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
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Phoenix’s Kahleah Copper and Los Angeles’ Kelsey Plum lit up the scoreboard as they each tried to will their respective teams to victory in what became an overtime nail-biter. Both players finished with career highs, as Copper scored 41 points while Plum added 43 of her own.
The duo’s scoring showcase marked the first time two different players scored 40 or more points in the same WNBA game.
Plum and the Sparks came away with the win in overtime, defeating the Mercury 111-102. Despite the loss, Copper’s career night had been a long time coming.
Jun 13, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum (10) celebrates after defeating the Phoenix Mercury in overtime at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
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Before Saturday, Copper had struggled to find efficiency with her scoring. While she was leading the Mercury in points, she had not consistently found the efficiency that has defined much of her career, as some of the shots she would normally make were not falling. Against Los Angeles, however, she looked far more like the player Phoenix expected when it acquired the former WNBA Finals MVP.
“Kind of needed one of these nights, I’m happy for her,” head coach Nate Tibbetts told Clutch Points’ Hayden Cilley postgame. “It’s been a tough start to the year. She puts a lot of pressure on herself. Obviously, all the veterans do… We need her to play free with the mentality to help others, but she looked confident tonight. She looks like the Kahleah Copper that we know, and it’s gonna just be a matter of time before it broke.”
Copper was candid about her performance afterward, saying her focus is no longer on recent struggles but on doing whatever it takes to help Phoenix win.
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“I’ve been f—ing overthinking the past, however many games. I’m past that,” she said to Cilley. “It’s just like, just hoop. I wanna win. Whatever it takes. Making the right play or hitting shots, and I’m just taking the open shots, taking the easy ones. Not overdoing it.”
Jun 13, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Mercury guard-forward Kahleah Copper (2) shoots over Los Angeles Sparks guard Erica Wheeler (17) in the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
While the Mercury ultimately came away empty-handed, Copper’s performance could prove significant moving forward. Phoenix plays its best basketball when players perform at an elite level, and Saturday’s breakout offered a reminder of what the team looks like when Copper is playing at her best.
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If the 41-point performance is a sign that she has moved past her early-season struggles, it could provide a major boost for a Mercury team looking to climb back to a winning record.
