Sandy Brondello calls Angel Reese a 'protected species' during game
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 18, 2026, 3:20 PM
Last updated Jul 18, 2026
During a WNBA game on July 17, 2026, Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream defeated the Toronto Tempo 111-92. While Reese contributed 23 points and 12 rebounds, comments made by Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello drew criticism. Brondello was heard referring to Reese as a 'protected species' after a collision between Reese and Toronto's Nyara Sabally. The comment, seen as racially insensitive, sparked backlash on social media. Reese expressed her discontent with the remark, highlighting its negative connotations when associating Black people with animals. Brondello's choice of words has prompted calls for an apology from the coach and discussions about cultural sensitivity in sports commentary.
- •Atlanta Dream wins 111-92 against Toronto Tempo
- •Angel Reese scores 23 points and grabs 12 rebounds
- •Sandy Brondello refers to Reese as a 'protected species'
- •Reese responds negatively to Brondello's comments
- •Calls for Brondello to apologize for insensitive remark
- 3:20 PMYahoo Sports — WNBA coach caught calling Angel Reese a ‘species’
"On Friday night, Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream defeated the Toronto Tempo by a score of 111-92 in a game where Reese dominated, finishing the game with 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting with 12 rebounds. However, it wasn’t the game itself that stole the headlines from the day. Late in the game, Tempo head…
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