WNBA Finals-bound Mercury offer a blueprint for Liberty coaching search

Two years ago, Nate Tibbetts was hired as the coach of the Mercury, but his appointment did not receive a warm welcome from the public, generating significant backlash at the time.

General Manager Nick U'Ren's decision to appoint Tibbetts was heavily criticized due to his complete lack of experience in coaching women's basketball, with many expressing concerns over his unfamiliarity with the women's game and raising issues related to diversity in the coaching role.

Despite the initial scrutiny, Tibbetts has managed to silence his critics by coaching the Mercury to a successful turnaround, leading the team to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2021.