Game 4 of the 2025 WNBA Finals was eventful. The Aces secured their third title in four years, A’ja Wilson made history with her second Finals MVP, and the Mercury had to finish the game without one of their stars—Satou Sabally missed the game with a concussion—and head coach Nate Tibbetts.
Tibbetts was ejected with two technical fouls late in the third quarter, forcing associate head coach Kristi Toliver to take over for the rest of the game. Sliding into the head coaching seat in the middle of an elimination game with a championship on the line is no easy task. It is good preparation for someone who wants to take on a bigger coaching role in the future.
There are five coaching vacancies in the WNBA right now. The Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire still need to hire their first head coaches, and the Liberty, Storm, and Wings fired their coaches. NBA insider Jake Fischer recently reported that “Toliver is another known candidate to have interviewed strongly with the Liberty.”
After Game 4, Toliver received additional endorsements.
Mercury players and head coach believe Toliver is ready for a bigger role
After Game 4, Alyssa Thomas and Nate Tibbetts were asked about Kristi Toliver’s potential as a WNBA head coach. Both had only praise for her.
“She definitely deserves her chance of being a head coach,” Thomas told reporters. “[As]Somebody that’s played and really knows the game, she’s ready for this moment.”
Tibbetts said, “I think KT [Kristi Toliver] is ready.”
Tolliver has playing and coaching experience
Becky Hammon’s success with the Aces has highlighted the potential of former WNBA players as coaches. Toliver fits that mould. She played between 2009 and 2023 in the WNBA and overseas. Over that time, Toliver won two WNBA championships with the Sparks and Mystics. She was also a three-time All-Star and the 2012 Most Improved Player, and won four Russian league titles, two EuroLeague championships, three Europe SuperCups, and two EuroCups.
Toliver has the kind of playing experience that would allow her to form important connections with her players. Nothing makes trusting a coach easier than knowing that they spent years going through the same things and feeling the same emotions you are dealing with right now.
Toliver also has years of coaching experience. She joined the Washington Wizards’ coaching staff in 2018 while she was still playing in the WNBA. After two years with the Mystics, she joined the Dallas Mavericks as an assistant coach. Ahead of the 2024 WNBA season, she was named the Mercury’s associate head coach.
That is the kind of experience that should make Toliver an enticing candidate for any head coaching vacancy in the league.