Phoenix Mercury Names Two-Time WNBA Champion Tangela Smith and TC Swirsky as Assistant Coaches
WNBA Phoenix Mercury

Phoenix Mercury Names Two-Time WNBA Champion Tangela Smith and TC Swirsky as Assistant Coaches

Published on April 1, 2026 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Phoenix Mercury News Release


PHOENIX - The Phoenix Mercury today announced veteran coaches Tangela Smith and TC Swirsky have joined head coach Nate Tibbetts' staff as assistant coaches. Amiee Book has been named head video coordinator.

Smith, a 15-year WNBA veteran, played four seasons in Phoenix (2007-10), helping guide the Mercury to championships in 2007 and 2009. The 2006 WNBA All-Star appeared in 463 career games and was named to the WNBA Top20@20 in 2016, honoring the league's 20 greatest and most influential players. Smith currently ranks sixth in franchise history in career blocks, eighth in rebounds and 10th in points. After retiring in 2012, she began her coaching career at Western Michigan University as an assistant coach for four seasons (2014-18). She joins the Mercury from Northwestern University where she spent the last eight seasons (2018-26) on the sidelines for the women's basketball program, including the last four as associate head coach.

Swirsky joins the Mercury from the Capital City Go-Go, the NBA G League affiliate of the Washington Wizards, where he was an assistant coach for the 2025-26 season. He previously spent six seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies organization, including serving as head coach of the G League's Memphis Hustle (2024-25) and the head video coordinator for the Grizzlies (2019-21). Before his time in Memphis, Swirsky served as assistant video coordinator for the Portland Trail Blazers for five seasons (2014-19), working alongside Tibbetts while he was an assistant coach and associate head coach with the team.

Book - the 2018-19 Big West Sixth Player of the Year while at Cal State Fullerton - will join Tibbetts' staff as head video coordinator. Book previously held video coordinator and coaching roles with the Minnesota Lynx, Indiana Pacers and Noblesville Bloom, the NBA G League affiliate of the Pacers.

The Mercury will tip off the 2026 WNBA regular season on the road on Saturday, May 9 in a WNBA Finals rematch against the Las Vegas Aces. On Tuesday, May 12, the Mercury will open their home schedule, taking on the Minnesota Lynx in the Fry's Food Stores Home Opener. Tickets for all home games are on sale now at phxmerc.com/tix.

Check out the Phoenix Mercury Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Women's National Basketball Association Stories from April 1, 2026


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central