Nikki Blue Sues Phoenix Mercury for Racial Discrimination

[ad_1] by Mary Spiller July 5, 2025

The go well with claims Blue was pushed apart regardless of her {qualifications} and retaliated towards for talking out about unfair therapy.

Former Phoenix Mercury interim head coach Nikki Blue has filed a lawsuit towards the crew, alleging racial and gender discrimination, unequal pay, and wrongful termination. The go well with, filed July 3, in Arizona, claims Blue—a Black girl—was pushed apart regardless of her {qualifications} and retaliated towards for talking out about unfair therapy.

“Regardless of her exemplary report and professionalism, Ms. Blue was solid apart, demeaned, and denied the chance to guide,” said Mesidor PLLC, the regulation agency representing Blue.

“This lawsuit isn't just about one girl’s profession — it’s concerning the pervasive, institutional disrespect for Black ladies in sports activities management.”

In line with AZCentral, Blue joined the Mercury as an assistant coach in March 2022 below former head coach Vanessa Nygaard. After a tough begin to the 2023 season, with Phoenix starting 2-10, Nygaard was fired, and Blue was promoted to interim head coach.

Underneath Blue’s management, the crew completed 7-21 and missed the playoffs for the primary time in over a decade. She was not retained after the season and was changed in October 2023 by Nate Tibbetts, a former assistant coach with the Orlando Magic.

Notably, neither Blue nor Tibbetts had prior skilled head teaching expertise. In line with the lawsuit, Blue was paid $250,000 in her interim function—considerably lower than Nygaard’s $375,000 wage.

Tibbetts, who's white, was named the highest-paid coach in WNBA historical past with a reported wage of over $1 million yearly.

The go well with additional alleges that Mercury made deliberate roster selections supposed to undermine Blue’s success throughout her interim tenure. Since Blue’s departure, the Mercury have improved below Tibbetts, ending the 2024 season at 19-21 with a first-round playoff exit and presently holding a 12-6 report as of July 4.

Blue has since continued her teaching profession, becoming a member of the Los Angeles Sparks in January and later taking over a workers function at USC below head coach Lindsey Gottlieb.

The Mercury and Suns group pushed again strongly on the lawsuit, notably its ties to legal professional Sheree Wright, who has led a number of authorized actions towards the franchise.

“That is the fifth lawsuit introduced towards the group by Sheree Wright, an legal professional who has been disciplined twice by the Supreme Court docket of Arizona for committing quite a few violations of the foundations {of professional} conduct — together with making false and unsupported allegations of racial bias towards a decide,” stated Stacey Mitch, senior VP of communications for the Suns and Mercury.

“Like Ms. Wright’s different instances, this case is totally meritless. Ms. Blue was interviewed and regarded for the top coach place, however didn’t get the place primarily based on her efficiency as interim head coach, in addition to her restricted skilled teaching expertise. Sheree Wright’s continued abuse of the authorized system for monetary achieve is unethical.”