Nate Tibbetts believes the Phoenix Mercury smashing their franchise record for 3-pointers in successive games is a sign that the WNBA is evolving.

The Mercury beat the New York Liberty 106-91 on Friday to improve to 12-4 for the campaign, stretching their winning streak to six games.

Satou Sabally led the Mercury with 25 points, while Alyssa Thomas added 17 and matched the Phoenix single-game assist record of 15 for a second time.

Phoenix had a franchise-record 30 assists on 41 baskets, but it was their shooting from beyond the arc that truly stood out.

The Mercury made 18 of 39 3-point attempts on Friday, breaking the franchise record of 17 they had set just a week earlier in a 107-86 success over the Chicago Sky.

Their total of 35 3s across back-to-back games is a league record, and Tibbetts – a former assistant coach in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers and Orlando Magic – feels the women's game is changing. 

"I think you're seeing the game of basketball evolve," Tibbetts said. 

The hottest team in the league has a unicorn and the engine.

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— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) June 28, 2025

"It doesn't matter what league, people are trying to play with more space, more playmaking, more skill, more shooting. 

"With my background in the NBA, we were trying to come to this league and play the way we envisioned. 

"And it's not just us – I think the WNBA has done a good job of hiring coaches that want to play a new style. We've had two really good nights."

The Mercury are second in the Western Conference behind the 13-2 Minnesota Lynx, with the Las Vegas Aces their next opponents on Sunday.