In what may be the most explosive scandal in WNBA history, Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts is now alleging that the Las Vegas Aces bribed referees during the 2025 WNBA Finals — and he claims to have proof.

Coming off a heated Game 4 loss that sealed the Aces’ championship win, Tibbetts took the podium and shocked the league with direct allegations of corruption, stating that “critical calls” in the series were not just missed — they were bought.

“We’re not talking about bad officiating,” Tibbetts said. “We’re talking about a rigged Finals. I now understand how the Fever felt earlier this year. I have evidence, and I’m demanding the league open a full investigation.”

A Challenge to the League’s Integrity

According to Tibbetts, his evidence includes financial records, internal communications, and witness statements that suggest multiple referees may have accepted bribes tied to the outcome of the Mercury vs. Aces series. Though he declined to reveal the materials publicly, he stated that his legal team is preparing to present them directly to the WNBA.

“This is bigger than one team. This is about the credibility of the WNBA. If this gets buried, the league loses all integrity.”

Fallout Begins

The WNBA has not yet issued a formal statement, but sources inside the league office have confirmed that they are reviewing the allegations. The Las Vegas Aces have not responded publicly. Meanwhile, social media is exploding with reactions from fans, players, and analysts.

The Mercury organization has issued a brief statement backing Tibbetts’ call for “a full and transparent investigation into the integrity of the 2025 WNBA Finals.”

Growing Concerns Around Officiating

This isn’t the first time officiating has come under scrutiny this season. The Indiana Fever previously expressed frustration with what they felt were inconsistent or biased calls. Tibbetts’ remark — “Now I understand how the Fever felt” — suggests a broader frustration with league oversight.

While past criticism centered on questionable calls, Tibbetts’ claim is the first to directly allege criminal-level misconduct.

Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts was ejected during the third quarter of Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, in which the Mercury fell 97-86 and lost the Finals to the Las Vegas Aces.

Tibbetts received a double-technical foul with 2:41 left in the third quarter when he got in the face of one of the officials after a foul was called on Monique Akoa Makani. The Mercury were down 68-54 at the time of the ejection.

Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts, left, yells at official Lamont Simpson (38) after a foul during the second half of Game 4 of the WNBA finals against the Las Vegas Aces, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, in Phoenix.

Tibbetts wasn’t pleased with the call and even used profanity when describing how he felt.

“To me, it’s embarrassing,” Tibbetts said. “I feel bad that I was tossed. I’ve been around this game for a long time, I think it’s one of the weakest double technicals ever.”

Tibbetts didn’t get an explanation from the officials after the call and said that his words that earned him the first technical foul weren’t repeatable, but he walked away from that interaction and earned his second.

Official Roy Gulbeyan said that Tibbetts used profanity after the foul was called on Akoa Makani, which earned him the first technical.

“After the first technical was assessed, Coach Tibbetts stepped in closer aggressively to the calling official and again yelled,” Gulbeyan said. “At that point, a second technical was assessed, and he was ejected.”

Tibbetts was surprised by the ejection.

“I didn’t even know that I got the second one, to be completely honest,” Tibbetts said. “I don’t understand it. I feel bad for our team, our fans. It wasn’t needed, in my opinion.

I’d love to hear their call, but it was weak. We’re playing for our playoff lives. Most coaches, when they get tossed, you’re doing it on purpose. That was not my intention at all. But there’s been issues with the officiating all year.”

Tibbetts’ ejection was so quick that the players were shocked when he left abruptly.

“I didn’t know when he got the first tech, so I was confused about the ejection,” Kahleah Copper said. “I was trying to figure it out at first. When he was gone, it was just another form of adversity in the year. Let’s just add on to it. Let’s just play hard, and that’s what we about. When you talk about Mercury basketball, we never going to quit. We get after it. We can handle whatever you throw at us.”

Associate head coach Kristi Tolliver took over Tibbetts’ duties for the remainder of the game.