WNBA Suspends Toronto Tempo Coach Sandy Brondello for Remark About Angel Reese

The WNBA handed down a one-game suspension without pay to Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello on Saturday following comments made during the previous night’s matchup between the Tempo and Atlanta Dream. The league cited the coach’s use of language deemed inappropriate by the organization in connection with Dream forward Angel Reese.

The incident occurred Friday when Atlanta defeated Toronto 111-92. During a play review following an offensive rebound by Reese, Brondello directed remarks at officials that were captured by courtside microphones. The Tempo coach will sit out the team’s upcoming game against the Las Vegas Aces as a result of the violation.

In its announcement, the WNBA stated that “all coaches and team personnel” must maintain “the highest standards of professionalism and respect.” The league emphasized these values as fundamental to its operations and expectations across all franchises and personnel.

Brondello released a written statement Saturday morning acknowledging the remark. She attributed the comment to frustration over officiating decisions and a teammate’s injury during the game, accepting full responsibility for language she acknowledged should not have been used in that context.

The coach further addressed the broader implications of her words, recognizing that the remark carried significance for Black women across the league despite her contrary intentions. Brondello stressed her respect for the communities she has collaborated with throughout her career and apologized to Reese, her teammates, and the Dream organization.

Reese responded to the incident through social media, sharing posts that characterized Brondello’s comment as racially motivated. The matter drew widespread attention within professional basketball circles and beyond.

Brondello, a native of Australia, noted that the term referenced has been employed in Australian sports contexts as an expression of frustration regarding perceived disparities in officiating against particular players during competition.