Sandy Brondello-Angel Reese incident: WNBA suspends Tempo coach for ‘inappropriate comments’

Toronto Tempo coach Sandy Brondello has been suspended without pay for one game for “inappropriate comments” she made about Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese during the Dream’s 111-92 win over the Tempo on Friday, the WNBA announced Saturday. A live mic caught Brondello calling Reese a “protected type” while speaking to the officiating team after Reese’s foul play.

“The WNBA expects all coaches and team personnel to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and respect that are essential to our league,” the WNBA said in its release.

Brondello will serve his suspension on Monday when Tempo hosts the Las Vegas Aces.

Hours before he was suspended, Brondello issued an apology to Reese. “I used a phrase I shouldn’t have used, and I take full responsibility for that,” Brondello said, adding that he was “very sorry” and “for the emotions of the moment.”

The incident occurred late in the fourth quarter of Friday’s game when Reese took a foul shot and went to the basket against Nyara Sabally. Reese put his shoulder on Sabally’s chest to create space, but Sabally was bee-called and fell to the ground in pain. Brondello was upset by the call, and as Sabally was being tended to by Tempo’s medical staff, the announcer caught the coach yelling at the officials.

“Angel, you’re a protected animal,” Brondello was heard saying. “No, come on [official] Tony [Patillo]… that’s s—.”

After finishing with 23 points, 12 rebounds and 7 of 11 steals from the field, Reese took to social media to address Brondello’s comments. “WE ARE SURPRISED?!” he wrote, while referencing Brondello’s account and adding a clown emoji.

Sandy Brondello’s full apology

On Saturday morning, Brondello, in her 14th season as a WNBA head coach, took to social media to apologize to Reese.

Here is his statement in full:

“Angel, I’m sorry. Last night, in the emotions of a moment after Nyara was injured, I used a phrase that I shouldn’t have used, and I take full responsibility for that. My frustration was for the boss, but my words unfairly focused on you.

“I also understand that my words had more impact than I intended, especially for the Black women in our league, and I am deeply sorry for that. I have spent my career competing, coaching and learning from amazing Black women.

“I regret that my words have hurt a community that I respect a lot. I respect you a lot as a player and as a person, and I am very sorry to you and your teammates and the dream organization for my comments.”

Brondello was using an Australian phrase

Brondello is a native of Australia, where “protected species” is a common term used in sports to describe a player or team that receives special treatment.

Here’s how Sydney Morning Herald columnist Andrew Johns used it to describe rugby players: “In 2025, fullbacks can now play the game in a koala suit — they’ve officially become a protected breed.”

And 7News Australia deputy sports editor Cameron Noakes uses it here to describe Australian Football League players: “The truth is, however, AFL players have become a protected species, and the industry needs Cornes.”

Brondello is a basketball legend in his home country. He joined the Australian national team at the age of 17 and played for nearly two decades, helping his country win five international medals, including back-to-back silvers at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics. Brondello was also a two-time WNBL All-Star in Australia and the 1995 WNBL MVP before moving to the WNBA, where she made the 1999 All-Star Game and spent five seasons with the Detroit Shock, Miami Sol and Seattle Storm.

After her playing career, which included a very successful spell in Germany, Brondello began coaching in the WNBA as an assistant with the San Antonio Silver Stars in 2005. He has been in the league ever since. His first head coaching position came with the Silver Stars in 2010 before an eight-season run with the Phoenix Mercury from 2014 to 2021 and four seasons with the New York Liberty (2022-25). Brondello was named coach of the year in 2014, won two titles — 2014 with Mercury and 2024 with Liberty — and is sixth on the all-time wins list with 269. He arrived at Tempo’s extension before their first season after the Liberty did not renew his contract.

In 2017, he was appointed head coach of the Australian national team and has helped the Opals win three more international medals, including silver at the 2018 FIBA ​​World Cup.

Fágbénlé defends his coach

Tempo striker Temi Fagbenle has defended his coach after the league’s decision, calling the suspension “laughable”

“‘Protected animals’ is a metaphor and I don’t see anything worth stopping by what @brondellosandy said,” Fágbénlé wrote on social media. “‘Species’ is an unfortunate and touchy word for this popular phrase especially in the racially charged climate of the US, but if he had said it about (Caitlin Clark) (a comparison worthy of love) there wouldn’t have been any outrage, there would be now. The suspension is ridiculous.”

What is worth noting is that something is happening with the suspension of the coach because of his comments about the player. 2021, former Connecticut Sun coach Curt Miller is suspended for one game and was fined $10,000 for making “inappropriate and offensive” comments about Liz Cambage.

Brondello praised Reese before Friday’s game

Before Dream’s victory over Tempo, Brondello had high praise for Reese.

“Angel is very crafty. His ability to anticipate where the ball is going and his positioning to get offensive bombs and rebounds,” Brondello said. “That’s why he’s doing so well. I think he’s improved the way he moves. They put him in the face, and he attacks it.”

Reese, who was recently named an All-Star for the third time in as many seasons, averaged 15.7 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals in fifth place. He leads the league in rebounds, and is one of two players averaging a double-double.

Brondello’s comments come at a time of great sensitivity

In recent weeks, there has been an outburst of abuse directed at WNBA players, particularly on social media.

After a highly publicized incident involving Alyssa Thomas and Caitlin Clark, Thomas was again issued a Flagrant 2 foul and a one-game suspension. After that, Thomas and his colleague and Mercury teammate, DeWanna Bonner, became on receiving death threats and their addresses were leaked.

Earlier this month, following the Las Vegas Aces’ loss to the Indiana Fever, Chelsea Gray posted a racist message she received on social media. The person who sent that message in the end fired by their employerand both the Aces and the league released statements.

“The WNBA fully supports the Las Vegas Aces’ statement and stands with Chelsea and all members of our league,” the WNBA said in a statement. “We unequivocally condemn racism and all forms of hate. There is no place for this behavior in sports or anywhere, and we remain committed to protecting players and fostering an environment built on respect and inclusion.”

On Wednesday, Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud called out WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert for not doing more to protect players.

“I’ve been called —-, I’ve been called ——-, I’ve been called everything under the sun. I’ve been told they hope our plane crashes on the way home,” said Cloud speaking to Front Office Sports. “I think that as one of the best in our league, again, it creates a conversation that needs to be there. It puts pressure on Cathy, who was begging her not to step up in these positions.”

“Now I think it requires him to actually take action and do something about it. I don’t know what he’s going to do, but I also think that simple statements of not allowing insults are also really good in public relations,” continued Cloud.

Key members of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association are expected to meet with Engelbert and league leadership Tuesday in New York to discuss the outbreak of player abuse, according to The Athletic.