Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts is dealing with an illness and will not be coaching against the Seattle Storm on Thursday, July 2, at Mortgage Matchup Center. Associate head coach Kristi Toliver will take over head coaching duties.
Toliver said Tibbetts was feeling “sick as a dog” at shootaround in the morning and told her to handle the team. Tibbetts didn’t feel any better after, so Toliver will step in as head coach for the second time after taking over for Game 4 of the WNBA Finals when Tibbetts was suspended.
“I said, ‘Coach, I got it. We’re a next man up mentality team anyway,” Toliver said. “He couldn’t be here tonight, but I know he’ll be on the couch, watching with his wife, daughters and his doggies, cheering us on. So wishing him the best and hope he gets well very soon.”
Mercury star Alyssa Thomas will play in her first game since being suspended for putting her fist to Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark’s throat on June 24.
The Mercury will be without starting forward Noemie Brochant, who injured her left ankle against the Toronto Tempo on June 27, and starting center Natasha Mack, who injured her left foot against the Fever on June 22.
Reach the reporter or send tips for stories at jenna.ortiz@arizonarepublic.com, as well as @jennarortiz on X.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts out with illness against Seattle Storm
