Tibbetts, furious: Ejection in WNBA Finals for claims, criticizes refereeing.

Nate Tibbetts, Mercury Coach, Ejected in WNBA Finals

Phoenix Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts experienced a unique moment in WNBA history during Game 4 of the Finals. He was ejected after receiving two technical fouls, becoming the first coach to be ejected in a game of this instance. The situation occurred with 2:41 left in the third quarter, when Tibbetts angrily protested a referee’s decision. According to the head referee, Roy Gulbeyan, Tibbetts shouted “That’s bullshit”, which earned him the first technical foul. Subsequently, he repeated the phrase, leading to the second technical foul and his 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 in history.

Nate Tibbetts

In addition to Tibbetts, players Kahleah Copper and DeWanna Bonner also received technical fouls in the fourth quarter. Bonner’s was for an impulsive reaction to an officiating decision, while Copper was sanctioned after a foul and for addressing the referee with inappropriate language. Tibbetts also pointed out the disparity in free throws between Mercury and Aces in Game 4, with 19 attempts for Phoenix versus 35 for Las Vegas, many of them by A’ja Wilson, the Finals MVP. The inconsistency in the refereeing was another point of criticism for Tibbetts. Alyssa Thomas, player, agreed on the need for greater consistency in refereeing decisions.

Despite the criticism, the Mercury team did not attribute their defeat to the refereeing. The biggest problem for Phoenix was the loss of 26 points resulting from 18 turnovers. Although they managed to reduce a 20-point deficit to just six, it wasn’t enough to complete the comeback. According to Copper, this situation was another example of the adversity they have faced during the season.