PHOENIX — A season that has been clouded by complaints about officiating couldn’t escape the criticism in what could be the final game of 2025. With 2:41 remaining in the third quarter of Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, Phoenix head coach Nate Tibbetts was ejected for a double technical foul. It is the second consecutive game that the Mercury coach was assessed at least one technical but his first ejection of the postseason and first of his career. The Mercury lost 97-86 to the Las Vegas Aces, who cl
With 2:41 remaining in the third quarter of Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, Phoenix head coach Nate Tibbetts was ejected for a double technical foul. It is the second consecutive game that the Mercury coach was assessed at least one technical but his first ejection of the postseason and first of his career.
The Mercury lost 97-86 to the Las Vegas Aces, who claimed the championship with a 4-0 sweep in the best-of-seven series.
Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts was ejected from WNBA Finals Game 4 after this interaction with the ref. pic.twitter.com/5h1ZSeDUJr
— ESPN (@espn) October 11, 2025
After Kahleah Copper didn’t draw a foul on a drive to the basket, when it appeared that Dana Evans had reached on her, Tibbetts clapped in referee Gina Cross’s direction. On the ensuing possession, Monique Akoa Makani was pressuring Evans as she brought the ball up and whistled for a foul. Tibbetts approached Cross and yelled at her, pointing to the other end of the floor, presumably in reference to the Copper play. He was thrown out of the game for a double technical foul.
Tibbetts looked confused by the ejection and didn’t leave the court immediately, appearing to ask another official Tim Greene what happened.
Phoenix’s frustration with the referees did not subside after Tibbetts’ ejection. DeWanna Bonner earned a technical foul with six minutes remaining in the game for complaining after a no-call on a second-chance attempt. With less than two minutes to go, Copper was called for her sixth foul and let Roy Gulbeyan know her displeasure, resulting in a technical foul to go along with her disqualification.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Las Vegas Aces, Phoenix Mercury, WNBA
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Category: General Sports
