Mercury's Kahleah Copper (knee) out 4-6 weeks

The Phoenix Mercury will be without guard/forward Kahleah Copper for four to six weeks to start the season.

The team announced Saturday that Copper underwent an arthroscopic procedure on her left knee. The Mercury also said forward/center Natasha Mack will miss two to three weeks with a lower back injury.

Copper, 30, is a four-time WNBA All-Star and led the Mercury in scoring last season with 21.1 points in her first season in Phoenix. That put her third in the WNBA behind A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces (26.9 ppg) and Arike Ogunbowale of the Dallas Wings (22.2 ppg).

She was expected to provide veteran leadership for the Mercury this season after the retirement of franchise icon Diana Taurasi and the departure of Brittney Griner in free agency.

Copper also has played with the Washington Mystics (2016) and Chicago Sky (2017-23). She has career averages of 12.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, but she has not averaged fewer than 14.4 points per game since the 2020 season. When the Sky won the 2021 WNBA title, she earned the WNBA Finals MVP award.

The Mercury defeated the Seattle Storm 81-59 in their season opener on Saturday.

--Field Level Media