PHOENIX — Former Phoenix Mercury interim coach Nikki Blue has filed a lawsuit against the organization, alleging unequal treatment and termination in retaliation for speaking up against said treatment.
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Aug 3, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Mercury head coach Nikki Blue talks to players during the first half of the game against the Atlanta Dream at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
According to ESPN, Blue alleges she was paid less than her predecessor, Vanessa Nygaard, and successor, Nate Tibbetts. Blue claims she wasn’t paid equally by the organization based on her race, since the other two coaches are white and she is black.
Blue also alleges that the Mercury front office made decisions that made it hard to maintain a competitive team in 2023.
Aug 5, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Mercury head coach Nikki Blue looks on against the Seattle Storm during the first half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
The former coach was hired by Phoenix in 2022 as an assistant coach and made interim coach in 2023 after Nygaard was released in June of the same year.
A statement from the law firm that is co-counseling the case, Mesidor PLLC, was posted on Thursday night.
“Lawyers for former Phoenix Mercury interim coach Nikki Blue have filed a lawsuit against the organization, alleging unequal treatment based on race and gender, unequal pay based on race and that her employment was terminated in retaliation for complaints about unequal…
— Eliav Gabay (@eliavgabay) July 4, 2025
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
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