Sandy Brondello Apologizes to Angel Reese After ‘Protected Species’ Remark

Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello is apologizing after microphones caught her calling Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese a “protected species” during Friday night’s game. The remark came late in the fourth quarter after Reese drew a foul from Tempo forward Nyara Sabally, who suffered a rib injury on the play. Brondello was heard arguing with referees, saying, “Angel, she’s a protected species!”.

Reese, who finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds in the Dream’s 111-92 win, responded to the comment on social media. Reposting a fan who wrote, “Calling a Black woman a species…” Reese fired back, “ARE WE SURPRISED?! @SBrondello 🤡”  The backlash was immediate, with fans calling the comment “unacceptable” and demanding the Tempo take action.

Brondello, who is Australian, issued a public apology Saturday morning. In Australia, “protected species” is slang for someone receiving preferential treatment, but the term carries a different weight in the U.S., where comparing Black people to animals has deep historical connotations. “I used a phrase that I shouldn’t have used, and I take full responsibility for that,” Brondello wrote. “My frustration was with the officiating, but my words unfairly put the focus on you”.

Brondello acknowledged the broader impact of her words, particularly for Black women in the league, and apologized to Reese, her teammates, and the Dream organization. She had praised Reese before the game, calling her “elite” and “crafty”. It remains unclear whether Reese will accept the apology.