The Phoenix Mercury face a steep challenge trailing 2-0 in the WNBA Finals against the Las Vegas Aces, but coach Nate Tibbetts is still far from convinced of a potential lockout. While earlier Tibbets issued an NSFW warning to the Mercury, this time around, he’s calm and confident of his squad.
While the Aces are on a run of their own, there’s hardly a chance they would flinch. But with the dominant duo of Jackie Young and A’ja Wilson, Tibbetts leans on his team’s underdog resilience.
Coach Nate Tibbetts Confident Of Bounceback Despite 2-0 Deficit
The Mercury’s playoff run has undoubtedly defied expectations, toppling the Liberty and Lynx, and now running right at the Aces in the 2025 WNBA Finals. Now, with Game 3 at home, Tibbets’ confidence hinges on his ever-performing roster that has bounced back too many times.
Tibbetts drew strength from the Mercury’s playoff journey post-Game 2. Starting as underdogs, Phoenix silenced doubters, winning tight series despite early losses. Now, facing a must-win Game 3, he sees the home crowd as a catalyst.
“What gives me confidence is, we’ve been down before. We’ve been overlooked…but we’ve always bounced back,” he said after the game.
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As the series shifts to Phoenix, the Aces’ momentum looms large. However, the Aces’ bench, led by Dana Evans and Jewell Loyd, exposed Phoenix’s struggles, while their zone defense threw off the Mercury’s rhythm. Yet Tibbetts trusts his core, including Alyssa Thomas, to flip the script.
Nate Tibbets Questions Refs Over Alyssa Thomas Officiating
While keeping his horses running high on adrenaline, Tibbetts also turned his gaze to the officials, defending Thomas’ physical style. After her subdued Game 2 performance, Tibs called out the officiating against Thomas.
“There is no holding back AT (Thomas). She is who she is. That’s why we love her. That’s why she’s the player that she is. The thing that I just get disappointed in is hearing our officials say that she’s hard to officiate because she plays so physical. AT is going to be AT. We want her to be AT because she’s a hell of a player,” Tibbetts said.
This echoes Cheryl Reeve’s earlier criticism of WNBA officiating over a no-call that injured Napheesa Collier. Thomas’ intensity faltered against the Aces’ defense, but Tibbetts blamed inconsistent calls.