The only thing Nate Tibbetts needed was time.
Time to get his feet wet in the WNBA landscape. Time to work alongside Phoenix Mercury GM Nick U’Ren to scout and target the right players. And, most importantly, time to learn how he could take his offensive principles from a decade-plus of NBA coaching experience, tweak his system, and apply everything to a unique group.
Now, almost two years since he took over the coaching reigns for a 9-31 team, Tibbetts has the Mercury in championship contention.
The Mercury are the latest WNBA team to clinch a 2025 playoff spot, securing a seat with only six games remaining in the regular season.
Due to the WNBA’s increased competitive nature and influx of talent, Phoenix won’t know its playoff seeding or matchup until the final day of the season. Currently sitting fourth in the league with a 24-14 record, they are only one game behind second and 3.5 games ahead of sixth.
There are important tiebreakers in the mix, too. Here’s a cheat sheet to simplify those:
If Phoenix and Atlanta (25-14) finish with the same record, Atlanta wins the tiebreaker because of head-to-head matchups.
If Phoenix and Las Vegas (26-14) finish with the same record, Las Vegas wins the tiebreaker because of head-to-head matchups.
Phoenix and New York (24-15) still have an undecided tiebreaker. If Phoenix beats New York on Saturday during their final meeting of the season, the Mercury claim it. If the Liberty win, it triggers the second tiebreaker (better winning percentage against all teams with a .500 or better record). Currently, the Liberty own that with a 13-10 record compared to Phoenix’s 13-12 record.
This is the Mercury’s 15th postseason appearance in the last 17 years, which makes sense for a franchise that prides itself on consistency and the ability to craft winning cultures despite roster turnover.
But for this version of the team, the first without Diana Taurasi since before the iPhone was invented, the on-court product is different than anything we’ve seen.
The true beauty of this Mercury group is their fluidity. Unlike many teams around the league, including last year’s iteration in Phoenix, they have plenty of avenues to victory. It has practically reached a point where no two wins look the same.
Certain nights will feature Satou Sabally, the team’s leading scorer, emitting flames from the perimeter. While her outside shooting is down this year compared to her final days in Dallas, her volume and comfortability launching from deep gives Phoenix a multiplier they’ve never had from a player of her size.
Another ingredient of their winning habits can be Kahleah Copper, who isn’t shy to remind everyone how slithery she can be driving to the basket. A heavy portion of her season might have been affected by injuries, but when she needs to give the Mercury’s offense some juice, you don’t have to ask twice.
After scoring 28 points on her birthday – in efficient fashion – Copper now has three games this season surpassing 25 points on 70% true shooting. She’s one of only 10 players with at least three of those performances … and she’s missed 16 games.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - AUGUST 28: Kahleah Copper #2 of the Phoenix Mercury celebrates as time expires as the Mercury beat the Chicago Sky 83-79 at PHX Arena on August 28, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
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They can also smother you defensively, creating havoc in passing lanes and crowding opposing stars who aren’t aniticpating how well Phoenix helps each other and communicates. After being one of the worst teams last year in forcing turnovers (11th out of 12 teams), they have jumped to fourth in opponent turnover rate. Natasha Mack, even in a reduced role for much of the season, has become a centerpiece of that movement by evolving into one the toughest pick-and-roll defenders across the WNBA.
It falls directly in line with everything franchise owner Mat Ishbia envisioned when he promised a shift in the Suns and Mercury’s identity. Four months ago when the Suns’ season concluded, Ishbia discussed the value of having a gritty, resilient group that fights hard defensively for the entire game, not just in flashes.
Last but not least, there isn’t another playoff-caliber team benefitting this greatly from rookie contributions. All four of Monique Akoa Makani, Kathryn Westbeld, Kitija Laksa, and Lexi Held have left their fingerprints on a few wins this season.
Akoa Makani proved to be a sharpshooting talent and feisty defender since day one in training camp, and she’s already blossomed into a valuable starter equipped with the right skill-set for Tibbetts’ preferred style.
There are nights where she tips the scale in Phoenix’s favor – when Akoa Makani drills at least two 3-pointers, the Mercury are 10-2 this season.
The path to wins can look different from night to night, which keeps every player in the rotation feeling involved and knowing how vital they are. “You never know what you’re going to get” can apply to Mercury basketball the same way it does to a box of chocolates.
With the Mercury, roster balance was mandatory before they could reach this point. None of their success happens without U’Ren building a unit that’s hungry to win, focused on the right things, and leaves all egos at the door. It’s precisely why he’s the strongest candidate to win Executive of the Year.
The optionality they have found with shooters, athletic defenders, and high-IQ leaders is an enviable trait other WNBA teams will try to mimic.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - AUGUST 28: Alyssa Thomas #25 of the Phoenix Mercury dives on a loose ball against Michaela Onyenwere #12 of the Chicago Sky during the second half at PHX Arena on August 28, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
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Of course, all of these winning factors are blended together by the leadership of Alyssa Thomas, who has rightly earned all of the superlatives during the best season of her career.
Thomas’s versatile approach is what allows them to randomize their attack, spread the wealth, and become a team nobody wants to face in a playoff series.
Despite all of the unpredictable components she unlocks for the Mercury, there is still one area that remains a given: Nobody will outwork them in a close game.
Across the board, Phoenix steps on the throttle when games are hanging in the balance. In ‘clutch’ moments, defined as any possession played when the margin is within five points in the last five minutes, the Mercury have the highest scoring efficiency in the league (118.1 points per 100 possessions).
Most of it stems from the hallmarks of a great offense: Hunting for the most desirable shots and taking care of the ball. They own the second-lowest turnover rate in the clutch and second-highest effective field goal percentage, leaning into the ‘paint and spray’ philosophy Tibbetts has preached since arriving in the Valley. His teams will aggressively attack the paint and bend defenses until they concede open threes – which tends to happen frequently.
But, as Thomas will always note, their defensive pressure is what allows Phoenix to thrive. While her passing metrics will lead any MVP campaign her team institutes, the very next line should be how much she’s helped transform the Mercury’s defense in such a short period of time.
They aren’t doing all of this in the halfcourt. They are closing out possessions with rebounds (first in defensive rebound rate in the clutch), and quickly pushing up the floor to wear down the opponent.
Most teams slow down when the pressure heightens. It usually leads to poor shots late in the clock. But not the Mercury, who average the fastest pace in WNBA during those minutes:
The Mercury continue imposing their will on teams in tight fourth quarters
2025 Season
How does a team achieve such dominance late in games, especially when there are multiple players who could thrive with the ball?
As Tibbetts explained before their last win against Chicago, it’s a testament to how easily his players have bought in.
It’s typically the first sign of a top-flight championship contender. Phoenix has exhibited that behavior since the season began.
“I just think when you put a new group together, everyone has to give a little bit to get what we want,” Tibbetts said. “So we’re all being asked to do some things differently.”
The most prominent example of that is Sabally, who is playing a vastly different role than she previously did with the Wings. She now has the luxury of playing more off the catch and finishing plays, instead of trying to create them all the time.
“I think earlier in the year, her [on-ball] usage was as high as it’s been in her career," he said. “But as the season has evolved, just us moving her around to different spots, posting up mismatches, and getting her into some of our motion or split-action has been really good for her.”
Tibbetts recently praised Sabally’s willingness to get off the ball when she doesn’t have an advantage, pivoting to the ‘second side’ to keep the offense flowing and not letting the ball stick.
Day by day, the Mercury are building tighter chemistry. The players are settling into their roles and learning how to overcome different challenges along the way, which is always a prerequisite for postseason success.
With all of the tools in place to make a run, this final stretch is about obtaining homecourt and being healthy when it matters.