Kahleah Copper and Betnijah Laney's friendship is powering Team USA basketball

In both of Team USA’s exhibition games with women’s basketball college teams this November, Kahleah Copper and Betnijah Laney were in the starting line-ups. Laney led all scorers with 14 points in the win over Tennessee, while Copper scored 21 in Team USA’s win over Duke.

When Copper and Laney started playing together in AAU basketball when they were just 10 and 11 years old, they didn’t even dream they would one day they would be stars in the WNBA, and that they would get to play together for the U.S. They were key parts of the U.S. World Cup win in 2022, and are hopefuls for the Paris 2024 team.

“We started together, we're living out our dreams together now. Even though we're on different WNBA teams, it's really special to be able to see each other grow, to be able to see each other accomplish the things that we've been able to accomplish,” Laney said to Olympics.com.

A teenage pact marks the beginning of a successful partnership

Their journey started when they were played on the same AAU team in Philadelphia. They became fast friends, and continued to play club basketball through their high school years. That’s when they made a pact to go to the same college.

Laney is a year older than Copper. She chose Rutgers in nearby New Jersey. Laney’s mother had played for Rutgers’ legendary coach C. Vivian Stringer, and it’s where Laney felt most comfortable. When Copper went to Rutgers on her recruiting visit, Laney reminded her of their pact.

“Yes, I did help recruit Kahleah. Starting with our pact that we made in high school, but then reminding her of more than that, reminding her of what we wanted to accomplish, where we wanted to go and how Coach Stringer ultimately would help us get there,” Laney said.

They roomed together in college, both dreaming of playing in the WNBA. In 2015, the Chicago Sky of the WNBA drafted Laney. The Washington Mystics took Copper in 2016. But the start of their careers were hardly what they hoped for.

The Mystics traded Copper to Chicago in 2017. She started in just 12 games in three seasons as she worked to harness her explosive speed and playmaking ability.

Meanwhile, Laney had been released by the Sky in 2017 and didn’t play in the WNBA that year. She got back to the league in 2018 and bounced around until she was signed by Atlanta for the 2020 COVID season in the bubble. Copper was still in Chicago.

That was the season both women showed what they are capable of. Copper started all 22 games for Chicago, averaging 14.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Laney was one of the Dream’s top scorers, averaging 17.2 points a game. Since that season, they’ve both been named to All-Star teams.

Friends reunited for a World Cup victory and a Paris 2024 dream

In 2021, Copper was a key part of the Chicago Sky’s championship run. Teamed up with Candace Parker and Courtney Vandersloot, she was part of a potent offense that was able to win a title despite a mediocre regular season.

Laney, now playing for New York, is one of the reasons the Liberty went to the WNBA Finals in 2023. Her ability to both score and defend was a huge asset to the Liberty

In 2022, they got to play together again, and helped the U.S. beat China on the way to a World Cup win.

“It’s crazy! When we were kids, we never thought about Paris 2024 in 2007. We then had this whole journey together even us having breakout seasons in the bubble, and then us being able to maintain that high level of play,” Copper said. “We've been very consistent. We've shown what Rutgers players do in this league, for us to be able to do it together, and it’s been since we were kids. It’s nice.”

They will call and text each other as their seasons wear on. Copper was in New York to cheer on Laney during the Liberty’s finals run. Though they will play fiercely when facing off, their bond is evident not just as two great hoopers who have grown up together, but in women who are proud to carry on Rutgers’ legacy. Both attribute so much of their success to Stringer, who retired from coaching in 2022.

“She would always say, ‘do what you do and do it well.’ I think it pertains to every level of play that we did. For instance, USA basketball, you don't have to come here and try to do too much. You were hand picked for a reason. So you come here you do what you do well, times ten,” Copper said. “She used to say everybody should have one thing that you do exceptionally well. She said now when you can score and when you can defend, now you talking.”

Next, Laney and Copper have Paris 2024 in their sights. They often end up guarding each other in WNBA games, but they love the opportunity to play together. They’re hoping they get that chance at the Olympics.