WNBA suspends Toronto Tempo coach Brondello over ‘protected species’ remark
The league has cited a breach of professionalism standards after comments captured on a live microphone during a match against the Atlanta Dream were deemed derogatory in the US context.
The Women’s National Basketball Association has suspended Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello for one game without pay following an incident during Friday’s match against the Atlanta Dream. The suspension, announced on Saturday, stems from comments captured by a live microphone in which Brondello referred to Chicago Sky player Angel Reese as "a protected species" while disputing a foul call.
The incident occurred late in the game, which the Tempo lost 111-92. Brondello was heard addressing officials after her teammate Nyara Sabally suffered an injury from contact with Reese. While Sabally was called for the foul, Brondello’s frustration with the officiating led to the remark, which the league subsequently deemed inappropriate.
In a statement released on Saturday, the WNBA affirmed its expectations for conduct within the league. "The WNBA expects all coaches and team personnel to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and respect that are fundamental to our league," the organisation said. Brondello, who is in her first season with the expansion Tempo, will miss the team’s upcoming match against the Las Vegas Aces on Monday.
Brondello issued an apology on social media on Saturday, acknowledging the derogatory nature of the phrase in the US context. She stated she took full responsibility, attributing the comment to the emotion of the moment and frustration with the officiating, while recognising the impact her words carried beyond her intent.
"I also understand that my words carried an impact beyond what I intended, particularly for Black women in our league, and I’m deeply sorry for that," Brondello posted. She noted that the phrase is used in Australian sports to express frustration over a lack of calls against a player, but acknowledged it can be interpreted as dehumanising towards Black people in the United States.
Angel Reese responded to the incident on social media by posting "ARE WE SURPRISED?!" and tagging Brondello’s account, followed by a clown face emoji. Brondello has served as a head coach in the WNBA since 2014, having previously won championships with Phoenix and New York.
