Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello came under fire today following some comments she made about Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese. Now, she's taking accountability and issuing an apology.
Taking to X this morning, Brondello apologized to Reese for her comments and stated that she was just frustrated at the officiating but allowed her words to focus too much on Angel. Brondello admitted that her words "carried an impact beyond what I intended" and apologized to the entire community for her language.
"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.
"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.
"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."
Apology Accepted?
Plenty of WNBA fans and basketball fans in general were happy to accept Brondello's apology and some even felt that she didn't have anything to apologize for in the first place.
"This is a woman who is all class. Someone for to be a commissioner unlike the one we have. She didn’t intend to hurt but she did and an apology is appropriate. This is a full throated sincere apology in my estimation but honestly it’s not about my estimation," one user wrote on X.
"You didn’t need to apologize, the real ones know what you meant," wrote another.
"Sandy we love you, we appreciate you and we know and understand your words were not to use as to discriminate, Reese. Thank you for being a great person and example as a a coach, woman and as a person," a third wrote.
© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images.
Not everyone was satisfied by the apology. Some simply don't believe Brondello is sorry while others are even more offended that she felt a need to apologize in the first place.
Brondello's fate won't be up to the fans though. It will be the WNBA front office that decides whether the Toronto coach's words warrant any sort of punishment or if the apology makes it all water under the bridge.
We'll find out soon enough.
