“Damn, when is it going to be my time?” After Kahleah Copper got traded to Chicago, no one thought she’d emerge a champion. The six-foot-one guard was a benchwarmer for the Washington Mystics when her career began, only to get flipped for Elena Delle Donne. She was looking for an opportunity, and luckily, Chi-Town was exactly where she needed to be! Fast forward a couple of years, and Copper had a championship ring in one hand and a Finals MVP trophy in the other.

Her stint in Chicago didn’t last as long as we’d expected, but it led to Kahleah Copper becoming one of the highest-paid players in the league. The Phoenix Mercury star attributes her success to the upbringing she has had and all the support from her parents. So let’s take a look at her family life and see how the 2021 Finals MVP was nurtured!

Who are Kahleah Copper’s parents?

Hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Kahleah Copper was born to Leticia Copper and Jewelz Butler on August 28th, 1994. Her parents have been her steadfast supporters through her life and basketball career so far. Her mother, Leticia, has played a particularly significant role in Kahleah’s success. She nurtured the six-foot-one guard’s competitive spirit from a young age and taught her to be a team player after losses.

Overall, her family is quite supportive and tight-knit, comprising two parents and four kids. Kahleah Copper is the youngest of four girls and has three older sisters named Letia, Latifah, and Lattima. Her parents have been her biggest cheerleaders, actively encouraging her basketball ambitions from a young age, and they’ve created an environment for her to succeed in.

What ethnicity are Kahleah Copper’s parents?

Kahleah Copper’s family heritage is rooted in the African-American experience. Both of her parents, Jewelz Butler and Leticia Copper, are African-American, an ethnicity that has profoundly shaped their family’s identity and cultural background. And in terms of nationality, the Copper family is American citizens. Kahleah was born and raised in Philadelphia, and her parents are also U.S. nationals.

Who are Kahleah Copper’s siblings?

As mentioned before, Kahleah Copper has three older sisters named Letia, Latifah, and Lattima. While detailed public information about their personal lives and careers is limited, it is clear that Kahleah shares a close relationship with her family. She can often be seen on social media spending time with her nieces (Letia’s daughters), and they’re a prominent part of her life!

Kahleah Copper’s relationship with her parents

It’s evident that Kahleah Copper shares a very close relationship with her parents, but the bond between her and her mother, Leticia, is especially prominent! Kahleah often credits her mother and grandmother, both breast cancer survivors, as her sources of strength and inspiration. She has publicly honored them by wearing pink shoes and uniforms during games to raise awareness for breast cancer.

Their close relationship is also filled with immensely personal moments. After Kahleah Copper was named Finals MVP in 2021, she let out a curse in front of ESPN’s Holly Rowe. “I worked so f—ing hard.” Which, quite honestly, shocked her mother! “Kahleah does not curse. When that slid out, I was like, She is over the top right now!” Leticia said. She has always been supportive of her daughter, but also gave her some tough love whenever necessary.

In the beginning, Kahleah Copper was a “sore” loser. She couldn’t handle it when things didn’t go her way on the basketball court, and Leticia knew that she had to curb these bad habits before they got out of hand. “Look, you think I am going to keep getting off of work early to see you act like this? That is not cute. You have to be a team player.” She told her, admonishing Kahleah and teaching her a lesson worth remembering.

As the Mercury teeter on the edge of making it to the Finals, Kahleah Copper is going to play a huge role in taking down the Minnesota Lynx. And the six-foot-one guard wouldn’t be where she is today if not for her parents. The relationship between the WNBA star and her mom is certainly something to admire, and it might just bring a parade to Phoenix in a few weeks!