The Phoenix Mercury are looking for nothing less than a playoff berth, and with the WNBA postseason just around the corner, coach Nate Tibbetts is keeping his focus razor-sharp. While sitting at a good 19-12, ranked fourth in the league, his emphasis keeps circling around what’s ahead for the team.
The Mercury is coming off with a moral booster stretch since this week. They went on to win three out of the four games played. And while there’s a good, tough stretch ahead, coach Tibbetts wants to set the record straight.
Coach Nate Tibbetts Points At Phoenix Mercury’s Home Court Advantage
With the WNBA playoffs a little over a month away from now, teams are in a win-now mindset. Be it the chart-toppers, Minnesota Lynx, or the left outs, Connecticut Sun or Chicago Sky, all they want is to keep winning.
Tibbetts, in his second year with the Mercury, knows the value of home-court advantage all too well. After a 66-74 loss to the Atlanta Dream on Monday, he told reporters about the crucial games waiting on the road ahead for the team.
“This is the great time of year. We put ourselves in position to have home court advantage, but we’re going to have some good wins and tough losses in the next 13 games. You want to keep fighting, and we have a lot to play for. It’s an exciting time,” Tibbetts said (via AZ Central).
I asked Nate Tibbetts about how important is it for the Phoenix Mercury to get home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
— Aya Abdeen (@ayabdeen) August 13, 2025
He said, "We need to keep getting better. We're not where we need to be. Our group knows that, and each day is an opportunity. We're gonna…
The victory against a shorthanded Indiana Fever, sparked by Alyssa Thomas’s 18 points and 10 assists, had the team’s potential clear, but Tibbetts isn’t resting on laurels. With just weeks left before the postseason starts September 11, he’s urging his squad to lock in at home against tough foes like the Seattle Storm and Las Vegas Aces.
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Tibbets Phoenix Mercury Heading Into An Exciting Game Against Aces
The Phoenix Mercury are advancing to an exciting match against the red-hot Las Vegas Aces, who are riding high on a five-game winning streak. The Aces have really found their groove recently, taking down teams like the Golden State Valkyries and the Seattle Storm.
Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts on Aces (won 5 straight entering Fri at PHX), after their offseason changes, early season struggles: “They knew at some point they were going to find themselves.”
— DANA (@iam_DanaScott) August 14, 2025
Tibbetts on Alyssa Thomas vs. A’ja Wilson: “One of the premier matchups in our league.” pic.twitter.com/evOO2Hkxqq
On the other hand, the Mercury have been solid themselves, recently winning games against the Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, and Indiana Fever at home. However, they did stumble against the Atlanta Dream, who seem to have their number this season. But after that loss, a little rest could be just what Phoenix needs to regroup and come back strong.