Former Phoenix Mercury interim head coach Nikki Blue has filed a federal lawsuit against the WNBA franchise, accusing the team of racial and gender discrimination, unequal pay, and retaliation after she raised concerns about her treatment during the 2023 season.
Filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Arizona, the lawsuit alleges that Blue, who is Black, was paid less and treated differently than her white counterparts during and after her tenure as interim head coach.
Allegations of Unequal Pay and Disparate Treatment
Blue, a former assistant coach for the Mercury hired in 2022, stepped into the interim head coach role in June 2023 following the midseason dismissal of Vanessa Nygaard.
According to the lawsuit, Blue earned $250,000 as interim coach, significantly less than Nygaard’s reported $375,000 salary. The team later hired Nate Tibbets, a white assistant coach from the NBA’s Orlando Magic, as full-time head coach at a reported salary of over $1 million.
The complaint also claims Blue was “set up to fail” with poor roster support and organizational decisions that rendered the team noncompetitive. Blue posted a 7-21 record during her brief head coaching tenure but was not retained after the season.
“Despite her exemplary record and professionalism, Ms. Blue was cast aside, demeaned, and denied the opportunity to lead,” said a statement from Mesidor PLLC, which is representing Blue alongside attorney Sheree Wright.
“This lawsuit is not just about one woman’s career — it’s about the pervasive, institutional disrespect for Black women in sports leadership.”
Mercury Push Back on Allegations
In response to the lawsuit, the Phoenix Mercury and Phoenix Suns organizations issued a strong rebuttal, questioning the credibility of Blue’s legal counsel.
Stacey Mitch, Senior Vice President of Communications for the teams, highlighted that this is the fifth lawsuit filed by Sheree Wright against the organization.
“This case is completely meritless,” Mitch said in a statement. “Ms. Blue was interviewed and considered for the head coach position, but didn’t get the position based on her performance as interim head coach, as well as her limited professional coaching experience.”
The team also noted Wright has been disciplined twice by the Arizona Supreme Court for alleged misconduct, including making false allegations of racial bias against a judge.
Broader Implications
This case comes at a time when issues of equity in sports leadership, particularly regarding Black women, continue to gain national attention. Blue’s legal team argues the suit is part of a larger conversation about institutional barriers faced by women of color in professional athletics.
As of now, the Mercury has not publicly addressed the disparity in pay between Blue, Nygaard, and Tibbets. The lawsuit seeks damages and may bring renewed scrutiny to diversity practices within the WNBA and affiliated NBA franchises.
