Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello has found herself in hot water over the past couple of days over comments she made directed at the Atlanta Dream's Angel Reese.
Amid the Dream's 111-92 win over the Tempo on Friday, Toronto's Nyara Sabally went down with an apparent injury after a physical play with Reese. The officials ended up calling the foul on Sabally, which then led to cameras catching Brondello appearing to call Reese a "protected species."
While the Australian-native apologized and assured Reese that her comments were directed at the officals, the WNBA announced that she will still face a punishment.
"Toronto Tempo Head Coach Sandy Brondello has been suspended without pay for one game for an inappropriate comment she made regarding Angel Reese of the Atlanta Dream during the Tempo's 111-92 loss to the Dream yesterday in Toronto," wrote the WNBA on X.
The statement confirmed that she will be missing next Monday's clash against the Las Vegas Aces.
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Along with apologizing to Reese, Brondello apologized to all black women for the racial undertones of her comments.
"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 wrote on X. "I've spent my career competing with, coaching and learning from incredible Black women."
Reese has yet to comment on the suspension or Brondello's apology, but did take to X with frustrations directed at the Tempo head coach.
Reese and the Dream will take the floor again on Sunday, as they will be facing off against the team that drafted her, the Chicago Sky. The game is set for 4:00 p.m. ET and will air on CBS.
