Nate Tibbetts might be one of the assistant coaches for Team USA’s three-day training camp at Mountain America Performance Center, but in a few weeks, he’ll be meeting a revamped Mercury team.
With the new WNBA collective bargaining agreement signed in March, the league’s 30th season will start on schedule on May 8.
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But teams will have a condensed schedule and an expansion draft before training camp begins on April 19.
“It’s going to be a quick turnaround for all of us,” Tibbetts said. “We’re not in a special situation. Every team is going through what we’re going through. I’m excited, we got a CBA signed. I think the owners are happy, and I hope our players are happy. I know the support staff is excited the season is going to start on time.”
The expansion draft will be held on Friday, April 3, followed by the free agency window on April 7-8, and the WNBA draft on April 13.
While the gap between the Women’s Final Four and the WNBA draft is the same as in years past, the free agency period has significantly changed, shrinking from three weeks to five days.
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And with over 100 free agents, the general managers around the league and the players’ agents will be busy during that short window.
The Mercury’s big three of Kahleah Copper, Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally led the team to the WNBA Finals in the past season, which would make them an obvious target for the Mercury to retain.
Tibbetts deferred to the front office when asked if the trio would remain in Phoenix.
“I think everybody hopes to have consistency throughout their teams, but we’ll see what happens,” Tibbetts said.
The expansion draft is the next looming threat for the Mercury, as the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire will select 24 players from the teams’ unprotected lists.
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Tibbetts, however, isn’t getting too wrapped up in what’s to come and is instead focusing on how every team is on a level playing field with so many unsigned players.
“I let the front office deal with that. I don’t think you can get too stressed out about it. Everyone is going through it,” Tibbetts said. “It’s a stressful time, but I feel more for the players than I do for us. There’s some uncertainty from their standpoint. It is what it is. There’s going to be a lot of stuff happening in the next 20 days, and it’s just part of the process.”
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 head coach Nate Tibbetts talks unusual offseason
