Tempo coach Sandy Brondello apologizes for comment which prompted one-game suspension

Phrase “protected species” taken differently in Australia, North America

Published Jul 19, 2026  •  Last updated 24 minutes ago  •  2 minute read

Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello. Photo by Bailey McLean /Getty Images

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The WNBA has suspended Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello for one game without pay following comments she made Friday during her team’s game against the Atlanta Dream.

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The suspension, which benches Brondello for the Tempo’s matchup against the Las Vegas Aces on Monday, comes after she used the controversial Australian slang phrase “protected species” with regards to officiating of plays involving Atlanta forward Angel Reese.

The phrase “protected species” in Australia is used to describe a person who receives preferential treatment or leniency or, in sports specifically, it describes a star athlete who gets away with breaking rules without being penalized by referees.

Brondello used it in describing the treatment Reese was getting from the officials after watching one of her own stars, Nyara Sabally, helped off the court after taking an elbow from the Atlanta star as she drove the lane.

Sabally did not return to the game.

The problem is the word ‘species’ and the fact that it was directed toward Reese, who is Black.

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For her part, Brondello admitted she used the phrase and took to social media to apologize directly to Reese.

“Angel, I’m sorry,” Brondello began. “(Friday) 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.

“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 comments.”

Whether the league took the apology into account, only those within the WNBA know, but they still came down on the Toronto head coach, suspending her for one game without pay for uttering something that in her own native land has no racial undertones.

The expectation is that associate head coach Olaf Lange will take over behind the bench on Monday in Brondello’s absence.

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