Eric Thibault

The 2026 WNBA season will mark Eric Thibault’s second year with the Minnesota Lynx as associate head coach, following his tenure as head coach of the Washington Mystics during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Thibault joined the Lynx after more than a decade with the Mystics organization, bringing extensive experience in postseason play and player development.

Prior to serving as head coach, Thibault spent 10 seasons as an assistant coach in Washington and was promoted to associate head coach in 2019. During his time with the Mystics, he contributed to nine postseason appearances, including two as head coach, and helped guide the franchise to back-to-back WNBA Finals appearances in 2018 and a WNBA Championship in 2019.

Thibault played a significant role in player development with the Mystics, particularly with the guard group, working closely with Natasha Cloud, a 2022 Most Improved Player candidate, and Ariel Atkins, a member of the 2018 All-Rookie Team.

A graduate of the University of Missouri in 2010, Thibault served as a graduate assistant with the women’s basketball program before spending two seasons as a graduate assistant at St. John’s University while earning his master’s degree in sports management. During his time at St. John’s, the program advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2011 and the Sweet Sixteen in 2012.

Thibault was named an assistant coach at Virginia Commonwealth University for the 2012–13 season before joining the Mystics staff in the spring of 2013. He also spent five seasons with the Connecticut Sun, helping the team reach the playoffs in 2008, 2011 and 2012.