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Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello has been suspended one game without pay for making an “inappropriate comment” about Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese, the WNBA announced on Saturday, July 18.
“The WNBA expects all coaches and team personnel to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and respect that are fundamental to our league,” the league said in a statement.
The incident happened during the Tempo’s 111-92 loss to the Dream in Toronto on Friday. The Dream led the Tempo 98-86 with 3:16 remaining in the fourth quarter when Toronto forward Nyara Sabally was called for a personal foul as Reese went up for a layup. The contact sent Sabally to the ground in pain as she grabbed her midsection.
An irate Brondello pleaded for a foul to be called on Reese as Tempo players surrounded Sabally with towels. “Angel, she’s a protected species. Oh, come on. You can agree. It’s (expletive),” Brondello said to the referees
Officials initiated a review of the play, but determined there was no hostile act. A stretcher was bought out, but Sabally was able to walk to the locker room with assistance. She didn’t return.
Following the loss, Brondello said Sabally “hurt her ribs” on the “hard hit.” The first-year Toronto coach also used her postgame press conference to complain about the officiating, saying, “(The Dream) were the aggressor. They were getting all the fouls, rightly or wrongly. We didn’t get many fouls at all.”
Brondello’s comments were picked up on the ION broadcast and quickly circulated across X. One social media user referenced Brondello’s remark, writing, “Calling a Black woman a species…” Reese replied to the post on Friday evening, writing, “ARE WE SURPRISED?!,” with a clown face emoji and Brondello’s X account.
The next day, Brondello took to social media to issue a lengthy public apology for her choice words.
“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 on X on Saturday, July 18. “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 added, “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.”
Hours later, the league handed Brondello a one-game suspension “for an inappropriate comment she made regarding Angel Reese of the Atlanta Dream.” Brondello will serve her suspension on Monday when the Tempo host the Las Vegas Aces in Toronto.
USA TODAY has reached out to the Tempo and Dream for comment.
There is history between the Dream and Tempo. In the Dream’s 102-77 win over the Tempo on June 14, Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison was assessed a flagrant-2 foul and ejected for taking down Reese. Reese was pulled back from her teammates and appeared to be fighting back tears following the play.
Brondello joined the Tempo in the offseason after parting ways with the New York Liberty in 2025. The Australian native was named New York’s head coach in 2022 and led the Liberty to a 107-53 overall record in four seasons. She led the franchise to its first WNBA title in 2024.
Before her stint in New York, Brondello served as the head coach of the Phoenix Mercury from 2014 to 2021, where she led the franchise to its third WNBA championship in 2014. She also spent one season as the head coach of the San Antonio Silver Stars (now the Las Vegas Aces) in 2010 after serving as an assistant since 2005.
Brondello’s coaching experience extends beyond the league. She has served as the head coach of the Australian women’s national team since 2017 and led the Opals to a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics
Contributing: Meghan L. Hall
Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at [email protected] and follow her on X at @CydHenderson.
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