Kahleah Copper Returns to North Philadelphia Roots with Unrivaled Teammates
Kahleah Copper brought professional women’s basketball back to Philadelphia this week, marking a significant homecoming for the North Philadelphia native. As the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league made its first tour stop outside of Florida, Copper used the opportunity to reconnect with the neighborhood that shaped her career, taking her Rose Basketball Club teammates on a guided tour of “Norf” Philly, including the pivotal corner of 32nd and Berks where her basketball journey began.
The Phoenix Mercury star and Olympic gold medalist emphasized the role her community played in her success during the visit. Addressing the people of her neighborhood, Copper expressed deep gratitude, stating that her achievements were directly tied to their support. “I really made it because of y’all,” she told the gathered crowd, highlighting the communal effort behind her rise from local courts to global stardom.
The event at the Xfinity Mobile Arena drew a record-breaking crowd of over 21,000 fans, the largest attendance for a women’s professional basketball game in the city since the Philadelphia Rage played in 1998. The long absence of a professional women’s team in Philadelphia has been a point of contention for local sports advocates, who have argued that the city’s rich basketball culture warranted a franchise decades ago. While the city is slated to receive a WNBA expansion team in 2030, this Unrivaled event served as a temporary but powerful proof of concept for the market’s viability.
Copper’s return was not just ceremonial; she managed the logistics of her homecoming with precision, securing 64 tickets for friends and family to ensure her “village” could witness her play professionally in her hometown for the first time. In addition to the emotional visit to her childhood block, Copper introduced her teammates—including WNBA stars Chelsea Gray and Shakira Austin—to local staples, such as Dalessandro’s Steaks, bridging the gap between her professional circle and her roots.
The Unrivaled league, co-founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, aims to offer top-tier players an alternative to playing overseas during the WNBA offseason. While the league provides high salaries and equity stakes to players, critics have noted the exclusivity of the 30-player roster, which leaves many WNBA athletes without similar domestic opportunities. However, for Copper and the Philadelphia crowd, the focus remained on the celebration of local talent and the tangible connection between a superstar and the streets that raised her.
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