On Friday night, Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream defeated the Toronto Tempo by a score of 111-92 in a game where Reese dominated, finishing the game with 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting with 12 rebounds. However, Reese’s dominant showing was overshadowed by an unfortunate choice of words from Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello.
Late in the game, Brondello could be heard referring to Reese as a “protected species,” which clearly did not land well with the Dream star, given the connotations of comparing Black people to animals in the United States. Now, Brondello has apologized.
‘A Protected Species’
Late in the game, Reese and Tempo forward Nyara Sabally collided. While Sabally was the one who was whistled for the foul, she actually got the worst of the collision, suffering an apparent rib injury.
With Sabally down on the court, Brondello could be heard arguing with the referees about the call as she called Reese a “protected species.”
Toronto Tempo HC Sandy Brondello just called Angel Reese a “protected species.”
Completely unacceptable and out of line
(via @TimeoutSPORTS3) @Reese10Angel@SBrondellopic.twitter.com/k5hUx3vm2S
— HOOPS NATION (@_HoopsNation) July 18, 2026
Brondello is Australian, and the term “protected species” is slang in Australia for someone who receives some sort of preferential treatment. Still, the remark did not land well with WNBA fans or Reese herself.
After the game, Reese took to social media, where she shared a post from a fan criticizing Brondello.
“Calling a Black woman a species…” the fan wrote in a post on X.
“ARE WE SURPRISED?!” Reese commented, tagging Brondello and adding a clown emoji.
ARE WE SURPRISED?! @SBrondello
https://t.co/moNbYdDYo3
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) July 18, 2026
Reese was certainly not the only one to voice her frustration as fans quickly took to social media to express their outrage, as well.
Brondello Apologizes
On Saturday morning, Brondello took to social media to apologize for what she said, admitting that she “used a phrase that I shouldn’t have used.”
“Angel, I’m sorry. Last night, in the emotion of the moment after Nyara’s injury, I used a phrase that I shouldn’t have used, and I take full responsibility for that. My frustration was with the officiating, but my words unfairly put the focus on you,” Brondello wrote in a post on X.
While Brondello made it clear that she did not have any ill intent with her comment, she understands the connotations of what she said.
“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. I’ve spent my career competing with, coaching and learning from incredible Black women,” Brondello wrote. “I regret that my words caused hurt to a community I respect so deeply. I have a lot of respect for you as both a player and a person, and I sincerely apologize to you, your teammates, and the Dream organization for my comment.”
The post ‘I used a phrase that I shouldn’t have used’: WNBA coach apologizes to Angel Reese appeared first on The Comeback: Today’s Top Sports Stories & Reactions.
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