Nate Tibbetts, Ejected in the WNBA Finals: “It’s Embarrassing”
Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts was visibly bewildered at center court. With 2:41 remaining in the third quarter of Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, which Phoenix lost 97-86, he received two consecutive technical fouls for protesting a referee’s decision, becoming the first coach in league history to be ejected from a Finals game.The head of the officiating team, Roy Gulbeyan, reported that Tibbetts’ first technical foul was for saying “That’s bullshit,” after a foul was called against Mercury player Monique Akoa Makani. According to Gulbeyan, Tibbetts approached the referee and repeated the phrase, which earned him the second technical foul and automatic ejection.“For me, it’s simply embarrassing. I feel bad for having been ejected. I’ve been in this game a long time. I think it’s one of the weakest double technicals I’ve ever seen. I didn’t even know I’d received the second one, to be completely honest. I just don’t understand it”.
Nate Tibbetts
Mercury players Kahleah Copper and DeWanna Bonner also received technical fouls in the final quarter. Gulbeyan explained that Bonner’s was for a “heat-of-the-moment reaction”, including protesting an uncalled decision and a fist pump towards a referee. Copper was sanctioned after a loose ball foul and for shouting a swear word after “aggressively approaching the referee”.“It was weak, weak, weak. We were playing for our lives in the playoffs. Most coaches, when they get ejected, do it on purpose. That wasn’t my intention at all… I didn’t feel like I deserved it at all… It was bullshit”.
Nate Tibbetts
Tibbetts also pointed out the disparity in free throws between the Mercury and the Aces in Game 4. Phoenix attempted 18, while Las Vegas had 31, including 19 from Finals MVP A’ja Wilson.“There have been issues with the officiating all year,” Tibbetts said.
Nate Tibbetts
“A’ja is a great player. But when someone shoots so many free throws, it’s difficult. Obviously, we were frustrated. She shot as many free throws as our whole team. It’s hard to overcome. Tonight, it’s a decisive game for them, and they shoot 31 free throws”.
Nate Tibbetts
Tibbetts added: “There’s a change in this league. The product keeps improving. There are more eyes on it. The refereeing has to grow with the league.” Despite the issues, the Mercury stated that they did not attribute their defeat to the refereeing.“It’s been the message all season. We’ve been asking for it for years. But it is what it is. It’s unfortunate to get to this stage.”
Alyssa Thomas
Instead, Phoenix’s biggest problem was the 26 points conceded from 18 turnovers. Once again, the Mercury put themselves in a 20-point hole, a deficit they became familiar with throughout the playoffs. In Game 2 of the semifinals against the Minnesota Lynx, the Mercury overcame a 20-point deficit to win. In Game 3 of that series, they won after trailing by 17. In Game 3 of the Finals, they were again down by 17. Against the Aces, however, they couldn’t get enough production to complete the comeback. On Friday, the Mercury cut the 20-point deficit to six, and that happened immediately after Tibbetts was ejected. For Copper, that run was a greater reflection of the team’s season.“It’s okay. It’s over. We don’t even have to talk about it. It’s not about wins or losses. One thing about us is that we’ll take responsibility.”
Kahleah Copper
“It’s another form of adversity in the year. We’re going to add more to it. We’re going to play harder. That’s what it’s about. When you talk about Mercury basketball, when you talk about the Phoenix Mercury, we’re never going to give up. We’re going to go for it. We can handle whatever they throw at us.”
Kahleah Copper
