While the Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty are currently competing in the WNBA final, the season has long ended for the Phoenix Mercury, dead last in the regular season (9 wins for 31 losses).
Under the leadership of its new owner, Mat Ishbia, new momentum has emerged to energize the women’s team affiliated with the Suns. The first step was to begin construction of a new training center (at a total cost estimated at $100 million), then appoint Nick U’Ren as GM.
The latter had been stationed at Golden State for nine years. The following ? The formalization of a new coach capable of embodying the new Mercury project. And it’s Nate Tibbetts who was chosen.
The highest paid coach in the WNBA
To dislodge him from the Magic staff where he was Jamahl Mosley’s right-hand man, ESPN announces that Phoenix will make him the highest paid coach in the WNBA! He replaces Nikki Blue, interim coach, after the dismissal of Vanessa Nygaard.
After learning in the G-League from 2005 to 2011, Nate Tibbetts had his first experience in the NBA, in Cleveland, in the staff of Byron Scott (2011-2013) before spending eight years with the Blazers within the staff of Terry Stotts (2013-2021), then joining Orlando. It will therefore be up to him to rebuild, undoubtedly around Brittney Griner but also the irremovable Diana Taurasi, who has confided that she wants to be there in 2024. At 42 years old…
