Dawn Staley’s Support Message For Team USA’s Kahleah Copper Goes Viral After Scary Collision

In a scary moment during the U.S. women's basketball team's Olympic opener against Japan on Monday, Kahleah Copper collided with Japan's Rui Machida in the second quarter, leading to a brief but tense period as Copper lay on the court holding her side. She was down for a minute before getting up and walking off under her own power, a sight that relieved her teammates and fans alike. Copper returned to the game in the fourth quarter and appeared to be fine.

Following the incident, South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley took to social media to express her support for Copper. Staley's tweet on X, formerly Twitter, which read, "Let’s make sure norf Philly’s own is alright! @kahleahcopper hope you are good," quickly went viral, garnering thousands of views and reactions.

The U.S. team went on to secure a commanding 102-76 victory over Japan, extending their Olympic winning streak to 56 games. A’ja Wilson led the team with 24 points, and Breanna Stewart added 22. Despite Japan's efforts to keep the game close in the first half, the U.S. pulled away in the third quarter with strong performances from Chelsea Gray and Brittney Griner.

Griner, playing in her first international game since her return from a Russian prison, contributed 11 points and nine rebounds. The U.S. dominated the boards with a 56-27 rebounding advantage, showcasing their strength and depth.

Team USA will play Belgium on Thursday.

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