Aussie coach banned for ‘inappropriate’ sledge towards rival player
Updated . First published at
Australian coach Sandy Brondello has been suspended for one game without pay due to an “inappropriate comment” aimed at Atlanta’s Angel Reese.
Brondello, one of the WNBA’s most accomplished coaches, was caught during her team’s 111-92 loss to the Dream saying Reese was a “protected species”.
Sandy Brondello has been suspended without pay for one game. Sean D. Elliot
This was after Toronto player Nyara Sabally was called for a foul on Reese after Sabally went down with an injury after contact.
The league suspended the 57-year-old coach without pay for “an inappropriate comment she made regarding Angel Reese of the Atlanta Dream”.
“The WNBA expects all coaches and team personnel to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and respect that are fundamental to our league,” the league said in its statement announcing the suspension.
Brondello will serve the suspension when Toronto play the Las Vegas Aces at home on Tuesday (AEST).
Online, many came to the defence of Brondello, saying the “protected species” phrase is used in Australian sports to express frustration for a lack of calls against a player - but in the US, the phrase suggests that someone isn’t human and could be seen as derogatory toward black people.
Reese reposted the moment on X and said “ARE WE SURPRISED?!′ and tagged Brondello. This promoted Brondello to apologise to Reese and the Dream organisation on Sunday morning (AEST).
Brondello is currently at the helm of the Toronto Tempo in their inaugural year after spending four with the New York Liberty. During her tenure with the Liberty, she won the 2024 WNBA Championship.
She also spent eight years with the Phoenix Mercury and won a championship with that team in 2014, being one of three coaches in the league to win a title.
Brondello is also the head coach of Australia’s national women’s basketball team, the Opals, a position she’s held since April 2017 and has signed to continue into Los Angeles 2028.
