Kahleah Copper's 41 Points Weren't Enough, And the Phoenix Mercury Have No Answers Right Now

Can we talk about what went down in the WNBA last night? Seriously, my jaw is still on the floor! Kahleah Copper, *that* Kahleah Copper, went absolutely ballistic, dropping a career-high 41 points for the Phoenix Mercury. Forty-freakin-one! You'd think that's an automatic win, right? Nope. They still lost by 9 points to the Los Angeles Sparks. And get this, Kelsey Plum wasn't just chilling, she went off for 43 points, making it the *first ever* WNBA game where opposing players both hit 40+. It was a wild night, but for the Mercury, it's another tough pill to swallow early in the 2026 season.

Copper Lets It Rip, But The Loss Stings

Copper's performance was absolutely legendary. Dropping 41 points, etching her name in WNBA history with offensive play, that's insane! Even with DeWanna Bonner and Allyssa Thomas contributing nicely, the Sparks' offense, led by Kelsey Plum, just did enough to make the difference, handing Phoenix that 9-point defeat. Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts, though, saw the silver lining. He was hyped for Copper, telling reporters, "I’m happy for her. It’s been a tough start to the year. She puts a lot of pressure on herself. Obviously, all our veterans do… she let it rip tonight. She looked like the Kahleah Copper that we know." He added, "Kah needed one of these nights, I’m happy for her," and noted it was "just gonna be a matter of time before it broke her shooting slump." This night means a lot for her confidence.

First 40-Point Duel In History, But Mercury Still Searching

While Copper was cooking, Kelsey Plum was setting her own personal best with 43 points to seal the deal for the Sparks. Plum, who already bettered A’ja Wilson’s offensive game in a famous win against the Las Vegas Aces, pushed herself even more against the Mercury. This created a historic moment: Copper and Plum became the first opponent pair to record 40+ points in a WNBA game! Plum dropped 43 points, had 7 assists, and hit 5 threes, while Copper put up 41 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and drained 6 shots from deep. Talk about pure talent and stunning performances, underscoring the league’s rise in offensive play! But for the Phoenix Mercury, a 2025 WNBA finalist, these early losses are piling up. They had a rough offseason. Satou Sabally's departure adversely affected the team, and you can see it on the court. They’ve lost many close games, putting massive pressure on them. Losing a game where your star drops 41? That just highlights the franchise missing a member of its 2025 core this season. It's a tough spot, and this team needs to figure it out fast. So, what does this all mean? For both struggling teams, these kinds of star player performances, even in a loss, are crucial. The source says these efforts play a key role not only in this game but also in their future plans, giving them a massive boost for the upcoming games. For Phoenix, they gotta rally around Copper's insane night and find a way to turn these close calls into Ws. The season is still early, but every game matters. Can they build on this individual brilliance for collective success? We’ll be watching!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.