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The WNBA has suspended Toronto Tempo caput coach Sandy Brondello without salary for 1 crippled for utilizing nan word "protected species" while referring to Atlanta Dream prima Angel Reese.
During nan Dream's 111-92 win complete Toronto connected Friday, Toronto's Nyara Sabally fouled Reese aft an violative rebound.
As nan telephone was being reviewed, Brondello yelled astatine nan referees. Microphones picked her up saying, "Angel, she's a protected species!"
ANGEL REESE DANGEROUSLY PEDDLES RACIST CONSPIRACY THEORY AFTER WNBA COACH CALLS HER TWO WORDS
Toronto Tempo caput coach Sandy Brondello looks connected against nan Chicago Sky during nan first half astatine Wintrust Arena successful Chicago, Ill., connected May 27, 2026. (Michael Reaves/Reuters)
The WNBA announced Saturday evening that Brondello will now miss nan Tempo's adjacent crippled against nan Las Vegas Aces.
"The WNBA expects each coaches and squad unit to uphold nan highest standards of professionalism and respect that are basal to our league," nan league's announcement said.
Brondello issued a written apology earlier connected Saturday.
PAIGE BUECKERS SPARKS DEBATE WITH COMMENTS ABOUT BLACK WOMEN WNBA COACHES AMID CAITLIN CLARK COMPARISONS
Atlanta Dream guardant Angel Reese celebrates a handbasket successful nan 2nd half against nan Indiana Fever astatine Gainbridge Fieldhouse successful Indianapolis, Ind., connected June 18, 2026. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)
"Angel, I'm sorry. Last night, successful nan emotion of nan infinitesimal aft Nyara's injury, I utilized a building that I shouldn't person used, and I return afloat work for that. My vexation was pinch nan officiating, but my words unfairly put nan attraction connected you," she wrote.
"I besides understand that my words carried an effect beyond what I intended, peculiarly for Black women successful our league, and I'm profoundly sorry for that," she continued. "I've spent my profession competing with, coaching and learning from unthinkable Black women.
"I regret that my words caused wounded to a organization I respect truthful deeply," Brondello added. "I person a batch of respect for you arsenic some a subordinate and a person, and I sincerely apologize to you, your teammates, and nan Dream statement for my comment."
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Toronto Tempo's Brittney Sykes defends Atlanta Dream's Angel Reese during nan first half of a WNBA crippled successful Toronto connected June 14, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press)
After past night's game, Reese made a station connected social media referencing Brondello's comment. Reese shared a station that appeared to construe nan remark arsenic racially charged.
Brondello is from Australia, wherever nan word "protected species" has been utilized successful Australian sports environments to definitive vexation complete a deficiency of calls against a player.
Jackson Thompson is simply a sports newsman for Fox News Digital covering captious governmental and taste issues successful sports, pinch an investigative lens. Jackson's reporting has been cited successful national authorities actions related to nan enforcement of Title IX, and successful bequest media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.
