PHOENIX (AP) \u2014 Phoenix Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts was ejected from Game 4 of the WNBA Finals after receiving two quick technical fouls in the third quarter against the Las Vegas Aces on Friday night.<\/p>\n
Tibbetts \u2014 a second-year coach \u2014 was arguing a foul call against Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani when he got in the face of referee Gina Cross, who almost immediately called two quick technicals. Tibbetts reacted in disbelief before being escorted from the court.<\/p>\n
The Aces beat the Mercury 97-86<\/a> to complete a four-game sweep.<\/p>\n \u201cTo me, that\u2019s embarrassing. I feel bad that I was tossed. Been around this game a long time. I think it\u2019s one of the weakest double technicals ever,\u201d Tibbetts said. \u201cI didn\u2019t even know I got the second one, to be completely honest. I don\u2019t understand it.\u201d<\/p>\n Tibbetts said he wasn\u2019t trying to get ejected. Assistant Kristi Toliver assumed head coaching duties for the rest of the game.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re playing for our playoff lives. Most coaches when they get tossed, you\u2019re doing it on purpose. That was not my intention at all,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s been issues with the officiating all year. I have to look at it. I feel like I didn\u2019t deserve that.\u201d<\/p>\n Tibbetts said he didn\u2019t get an explanation from the officials on why he was tossed.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I said initially, probably I deserved a technical for sure. I walked away. I thought they gave (Akoa Makani) another one. I don\u2019t know if she thought I said something else.\u201d<\/p>\n Officials crew chief Roy Gulbeyan told a pool reporter that Tibbetts complained about the call on Akoa Makani while shouting an expletive, which earned the first technical. Gulbeyan said Tibbetts moved in closer to Cross and repeated the same phrase, earning the second technical.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not the first time WNBA officials have been at the center of controversy during this postseason. Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve was ejected in Game 3 of the semifinals against Phoenix when she argued after star player Napheesa Collier got hurt in the final minute. Reeve was suspended for Game 4, in which the Lynx were eliminated by the Mercury.<\/p>\n