WNBA Announces Firing and Fines for Referees Involved in Aces-Mercury Cheating Scandal!
In a landmark decision that could reshape the league’s future, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) has confirmed the termination of several referees involved in a widespread cheating scandal during the 2025 Finals between the Las Vegas Aces and the Phoenix Mercury.
The league revealed on Monday that it will fire and impose $300,000 in total fines on multiple referees found guilty of accepting bribes to influence the outcome of the championship series in favor of the Aces. Among those implicated is one official who now faces prison time after being convicted in federal court for accepting illicit payments that directly impacted critical calls throughout the Finals.
“This is a deeply disturbing and unacceptable breach of the values we uphold,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement. “We are taking swift and decisive action to protect the integrity of our game and the trust of our fans, players, and partners.”
The investigation, which began after Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts publicly alleged corruption in Game 4 — calling it “rigged as clear as day” — uncovered evidence of financial transactions and communications that pointed to deliberate bias in favor of the Aces. League sources say that surveillance, wiretaps, and financial audits were used to corroborate the findings.
One of the referees, whose identity has not yet been disclosed due to ongoing legal proceedings, was reportedly the main point of contact in a bribery operation that funneled thousands of dollars in exchange for favorable calls. That referee has been sentenced to federal prison for fraud and conspiracy charges related to the scheme.
In addition to the firings and fines, the WNBA says it will conduct a full audit of its officiating department and implement new oversight measures, including independent referee review panels and mandatory financial disclosures for all game officials.
“This is about accountability and restoring faith in the fairness of the competition,” Engelbert added. “There will be no tolerance for misconduct at any level of this league.”
The Las Vegas Aces have not been formally accused of wrongdoing at this time, though league officials say the investigation remains active and further developments are possible.
Meanwhile, Mercury players and fans have expressed outrage, calling for the championship results to be overturned or reviewed. Legal analysts suggest that if further evidence ties the Aces organization to the scandal, the league could face pressure to vacate the title or impose additional sanctions.
As the WNBA works to repair its reputation, this scandal — already being called the most serious in league history — is likely to cast a long shadow over what was supposed to be a celebratory moment for women’s basketball.
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.
