What does it mean to return to the place where your legacy began, only this time, as the opponent? Kahleah Copper found out last night, stepping onto her old home court not in the familiar Sky blue and yellow, but repping the Phoenix Mercury. In a game that felt personal, she poured in 16 points and helped Phoenix to a 21-point victory over her former team. But the impact went beyond the scoreboard. Reflecting on the win, Copper saw something deeper—echoes of the Sky’s 2021 championship run emerging in this new Phoenix squad, hinting at something special taking shape in the desert.

Her journey began with loads of self-doubt. Even though she was a McDonald’s All-American in high school, Copper said, “I just don’t think I was that good.” And her only idol, whose footsteps she followed to get through it all, was none other than her former Sky teammate, Candace Parker. Once, in a dream-like situation, Copper was at a gathering at Parker’s L.A. home, and fully starstruck, she called her sister. “I’m at her house,” she said, recalling a nap on Parker’s couch. Fast forward to 2025, she’s helping Phoenix dominate the same Sky team she once carried to glory with her idol.

And rightfully so, what she has been feeling lately is also filled with nostalgia. After Mercury’s win over the Sky, Kahleah Copper made an emotional confession. She said, “Another moment, I definitely have to say in 2021, we had a good time against the Phoenix Mercury, but it was just so much joy.” What a valid statement, for someone who spent seven seasons in the Windy City, it’s still home in more ways than one. “Like I always say, that finals MVP could have went, any way. Candace, Slew, Allie came up big.” And of course, who could forget that legendary roster? However, the band has now scattered.

Candace Parker, the hometown hero, is now with the LA Sparks. Courtney Vandersloot “Slew”, tragically for Chicago, is out for the season due to an ACL injury. And Allie Quigley, who has now retired, is stepping into a new role entirely: raising a child alongside her wife, Vandersloot. For them as individuals, it’s surely a beautiful evolution. But for the Sky franchise, it is a reminder of how far removed their current roster is from its golden era. “So, yeah, we were playing with so much joy and we were competing for the big things.” At the time, nobody from the Sky knew that it would be the last time, though. “So, that was probably one of the other times in my career that I was having so much joy and winning.”

Just take last night, Chicago fell apart early and never recovered. Angel Reese managed just 9 points in 21 minutes. This was one of her brighter performances in an otherwise flat season. Kamilla Cardoso and Michaela Onyenwere each chipped in 17, but it wasn’t enough to even keep the gap respectable. When a rookie’s single-digit scoring line is considered a highlight, you know things are bad. For the Sky, this was a painful reminder of how far they’ve fallen. But for Copper, it was a triumphant return to the place where she once ruled.

Kahleah Copper Dominating the Chat

The final score said everything: Phoenix 107, Chicago 86. It was Mercury’s highest-scoring game of the season, and they did it right on the Sky’s home court. But the real drama started after the buzzer. Kahleah Copper, who used to be Chicago’s franchise player before joining Phoenix this season, hopped on X (formerly Twitter). She posted a loaded message: “DUBS IN THE MF CHATTTT.” To outsiders, it might have just looked like a typical hype tweet after a blowout.

But for anyone who keeps up with the WNBA’s storylines this year, Copper’s choice of words was far from random. Back in February, Chicago rookie Angel Reese went viral after her first pro win with an over-the-top postgame quote: “DUBS IN THE CHAT! THANK YAAAA!”. That message instantly became a fan favorite. It turned into a meme and a go-to celebration across WNBA Twitter. So, when Copper dropped almost the exact same line after dismantling Reese’s team on their home floor? Yeah, that wasn’t an accident.

The internet immediately picked up on it. Some people loved the confidence and called it elite trash talk. Others thought it was a little too intentional, maybe even petty. Either way, it turned just another regular-season win into something way juicier. ESPN pointed out that the Mercury’s 107 points were their best offensive night of the year, which only made the statement stronger. And as The Athletic noted, Copper’s offseason exit from Chicago was already one of the league’s most emotional breakups.

Now, she came back, dropped a career-high performance, and threw in what some might call a subtle jab? To this, Reese didn’t clap back directly, but she did post a low-key “on to the next” on her Instagram Stories later that night. No names, no drama, but the tension was definitely there. The next time these two teams meet, it won’t just be about the game. It’ll be about who really owns the moment, and maybe even who owns the chat.