Angel Reese thanks WNBA for suspending coach over "protected species" remark

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese said she was grateful that the WNBA suspended Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello for a remark made during a game against the Chicago Sky. Reese told reporters that she appreciated Brondello's apology and that the league's action showed there is "no place for discrimination or hate" in the WNBA. She added that she hopes the league can move forward and focus on winning basketball.

The incident began after Reese collided with Tempo forward Nyara Sabally on a rebound, leading to a foul call against Sabally. Brondello, upset with the call, described Reese as a "protected species," a phrase that is used in Australian sports to suggest a player receives favorable treatment from officials. Brondello, who is Australian, later apologized on social media, saying the comment was made in the heat of the moment and that she did not intend to target Reese. She also told reporters that she recognized the phrase could be interpreted differently in the United States and expressed regret for any impact it had on Black women in the league.

Brondello reiterated her apology in a press conference, stating she is not racist and wants to be part of the solution. She said she had reached out to the Dream to speak directly with Reese, but Reese had not responded as of Sunday. Reese's public statement framed the comment as an act of discrimination, while Brondello maintained it was an expression of frustration with officiating rather than a racial slur.