CHICAGO (February 6, 2024) — The Chicago Sky announced today the team has acquired forwards Michaela Onyenwere (OWN-YEN-WEH-RAY) and Brianna Turner in a trade with the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for Kahleah Copper and Morgan Bertsch. In addition, Chicago receives Phoenix’s third overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Chicago’s own 2025 second round pick (previously acquired by Phoenix in a four-team trade prior to the 2023 season), Phoenix’s 2026 first round pick and the rights to a 2026 second-round pick swap with Phoenix.
Chicago receives:
Michaela Onyenwere
Brianna Turner
2024 1st Round Pick (3rd Overall)
2025 2nd Round Pick (previously acquired by Phoenix – originally Chicago’s own pick from a four-team trade in 2023)
2026 1st Round Pick
Rights to swap 2026 2nd Round Picks
Phoenix receives:
Kahleah Copper
Morgan Bertsch
“Firstly, we would like to thank Kahleah for her tremendous contributions to the Chicago Sky, including leading the Sky to a championship as the 2021 WNBA Finals MVP,” Chicago Sky General Manager Jeff Pagliocca said. “Over seven years, Kahleah brought a fierce competitive spirit, passion for winning and high energy that embodied Chicago Sky basketball. Kahleah will be missed, and we wish her all the best in her next chapter.
We are focused on building team chemistry and playing Chicago Sky basketball, which includes unselfish teamwork, unmatched grit, effort, and resilience.
Michaela brings great athleticism and has greatly improved every year she’s been in the league thus far,” Pagliocca added. “Bringing a former Rookie of the Year can only strengthen our roster. Brianna brings tremendous size, rebounding abilities and stifling defense to the team and we cannot wait to see what they can both do in a Sky uniform.”
Onyenwere, originally selected sixth overall in the 2021 WNBA Draft by New York, joins the Sky after spending the 2023 season with Phoenix. She had a standout rookie season with the Liberty, earning 2021 WNBA Rookie of the Year honors, 2021 AP Rookie of the Year, WNBA All-Rookie Team, AP All-Rookie Team and four Rookie of the Month awards in her debut season (May, June, August, September). Last season with Phoenix, she averaged a career-high 8.9 points and 3.7 rebounds in 23.8 minutes.
The Aurora, Colorado native is currently playing overseas with Ormanspor in Turkey, averaging 17.6 points on 59.3% field goal shooting and 6.8 rebounds in 33.0 minutes this season. Onyenwere played four collegiate seasons at UCLA, averaging 15.3 points and 7.2 rebounds across 123 career appearances (89) starts. She ranks second all time in UCLA history in career points with 1,888. Her 642 points in the 2018-19 season are a single-season school record.
Turner, selected 11th overall in the 2019 draft by Phoenix, spent the first five seasons of her career with the Mercury. She was named to the WNBA’s All-Rookie Team in 2019. Turner was named to the WNBA All-Defensive First Team in back-to-back seasons (2020-21), averaging 1.6 blocks and 0.9 steals across her second and third seasons in the league. She holds career averages of 5.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 0.9 steals in 158 career WNBA appearances.
She is currently suiting up for Adelaide in Australia, averaging 7.5 points, 13.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.2 blocks and 2.2 steals in 37.9 minutes this season. She played four seasons collegiately at Notre Dame from 2014-19, helping the Fighting Irish to an NCAA championship in 2018. A three-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Turner finished her collegiate career as Notre Dame’s all-time leader in blocks and rebounds.
Selected by the Mystics with the seventh overall pick in the 2016 draft, Copper was traded to the Sky in 2017. Copper helped guide the Sky to their first WNBA championship in 2021, being named Finals MVP. During her time with the Sky, Copper was named an All-Star in three straight seasons (2021, 2022 and 2023).
Copper exits the franchise ranked fourth all-time in points scored (2,677), as well as fourth in field goals made (990), fifth in minutes played (5,260), fifth in rebounds (799) and eighth in assists (313).
Bertsch signed with Chicago ahead of the 2023 season and made her league debut with the Sky. In her rookie season in Chicago, Bertsch averaged 4.4 points and 1.7 rebounds in 28 games (five starts).
The Sky now hold the third and 13th overall (1st pick, 2nd round) picks in the upcoming 2024 WNBA Draft.
The Chicago Sky tip off the 2024 regular season on Wednesday, May 15 against the Dallas Wings at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas at 7:00 p.m. CST. Follow @chicagosky on social media and head to sky.wnba.com for the latest news, content and ticket purchasing.