Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello found herself at the center of controversy this weekend after a heated moment during Friday’s game spilled over into a much bigger conversation. By Saturday, she had taken to social media to address it directly.
The comments she posted did not shy away from the moment or try to explain it away.
Sandy Brondello Issues Heartfelt Apology to Angel Reese
The incident stemmed from Friday night’s matchup between the Tempo and the Atlanta Dream, a game Atlanta won 111-92 behind a strong showing from Angel Reese, who finished with 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting, 12 rebounds, three steals and two assists.
Late in the contest, Reese and Tempo forward Nyara Sabally collided on a play that was whistled as a foul on Sabally, though Sabally appeared to take the worst of the impact, suffering what looked like a rib injury that eventually forced her out of the game.
As Sabally lay on the court, Brondello could be heard on a hot mic arguing, referring to Reese as a “protected species” while venting her frustration with how the game was being officiated. The comment quickly spread online, with some fans and commentators taking issue with the phrasing.
Reese saw the criticism and responded on social media, tagging Brondello directly and writing “ARE WE SURPRISED?!” alongside a clown emoji.
The backlash prompted a wider debate, with some pointing out that “protected species” is a common phrase in Australian sports slang, as it is in Brondello’s home state, typically used to describe an athlete who consistently receives favorable treatment from officials.
Whether or not that context softened the moment for everyone watching, Brondello chose to apologize directly rather than lean on the explanation.
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.
— Sandy Brondello (@SBrondello) July 18, 2026
“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.
Brondello also mentioned that she didn’t mean to offend the community, and apologized to the general audience as well.
“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,” she said.
Reese has been one of the league’s more productive players this season, her first with Atlanta after being traded from the Chicago Sky. She is averaging career highs of 15.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, numbers that have kept her squarely in the spotlight all year.
For now, both sides appear ready to move past the moment. Brondello’s apology was direct and did not lean on the cultural explanation as an excuse, while Reese has not publicly responded since the coach’s statement went out.
The Tempo and Dream are not scheduled to meet again for some time, giving both sides plenty of room to let the story settle before their next matchup.
