PHOENIX – When Nate Tibbetts accepted his first WNBA coaching role this season, he faced a new challenge: answering questions about the Phoenix Mercury from his twin daughters, Jordyn and Londyn. In 2018, as the Portland Trail Blazers’ assistant coach, Tibbetts was preparing for the future possibility of becoming a head coach while also welcoming the birth of his twin daughters. After his eight-year stint ended in 2021 with the Trail Blazers, the Orlando Magic hired Tibbetts as an assistant coach.
Last October, Tibbetts earned his first big break as the Mercury tapped him as the next head coach, hoping his extensive NBA experience could turn around the franchise after a tumultuous 9-31 season in 2023. “Being a father of two young daughters ..
. I’ve never gotten so many questions about the Phoenix Mercury than I do from my two little girls, which is awesome,” Tibbetts said. “I was hoping that they would get interested and get behind it, and obviously, all they’ve known is their dad as a basketball coach.
“But coaching men, I think maybe they didn’t see themselves in that light and I’ve got one of them that I never thought would pick up a basketball telling me she wants to be a basketball player because her favorite player is Natasha Cloud. We are still trying to get our feet settled as a family here, but it’s been a great start not only for me professionally but for our family and how they’ve really gotten behind seeing their dad coach women.” In Tibb.
