{"id":4522,"date":"2026-07-19T23:08:55","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T23:08:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/homebuyerrelocation.com\/?p=4522"},"modified":"2026-07-19T23:08:55","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T23:08:55","slug":"wnba-coach-suspended-over-comments-on-reese-officiating","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/homebuyerrelocation.com\/?p=4522","title":{"rendered":"WNBA coach suspended over comments on Reese, officiating"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The WNBA\u2019s ongoing reckoning over refereeing and racial tensions escalated over the weekend as Toronto Tempo coach Sandy Brondello was suspended one game for calling Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese a \u201cprotected species\u201d due to officials\u2019 foul calls.<\/p>\n

Read more Spain tops Argentina to win World Cup on Ferran Torres\u2019 extra-time goal<\/a><\/p>\n

Brondello later apologized, first in a statement to social media before elaborating after Toronto\u2019s practice on Sunday.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy words carried an impact beyond what I intended, particularly for Black women in our league, and I\u2019m deeply sorry for that. I\u2019ve spent my career competing with, coaching and learning from incredible Black women,\u201d Brondello wrote. \u201cI regret that my words caused hurt to a community I respect so deeply.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brondello made the \u201cprotected species\u201d comment during the Tempo\u2019s 111-92 loss to the Dream on Friday. Toronto forward Nyara Sabally was injured after contact with Reese, but the referees assigned the foul to Sabally.<\/p>\n

In a conversation with the officials, Brondello called Reese a \u201cprotected species,\u201d referring to the lack of fouls assessed to the popular three-time All-Star.<\/p>\n

\u201cARE WE SURPRISED?!\u201d Reese wrote on X after the game, tagging Brondello with a clown emoji.<\/p>\n

The WNBA announced on Saturday that would suspend Brondello for one game without pay. She\u2019ll miss Toronto\u2019s game against the Las Vegas Aces on Monday night.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe WNBA expects all coaches and team personnel to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and respect that are fundamental to our league,\u201d the league said in a statement.<\/p>\n

Brondello is from Australia, where commentators, coaches and players routinely use the phrase \u201cprotected species\u201d to refer to athletes who appear to be coddled by friendly calls from referees.<\/p>\n

In the U.S., referring to Reese, who is Black, as non-human carries a harsher tone.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am grateful that the league did take action on the situation that happened,\u201d Reese said after Atlanta\u2019s practice on Sunday, clarifying that she appreciated Brondello\u2019s apology. \u201cThere is no place for discrimination or hate in this league from anyone, from fans to coaches to players.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brondello said she accepts \u201cfull responsibility\u201d for her actions and noted that her frustration lay \u201cwith the officiating, but my words unfairly put the focus on [Reese].\u201d<\/p>\n

Reese is a Baltimore native who played two seasons at the University of Maryland, before transferring to LSU. Her brother, Julian Reese, played for the Terrapins and is now with the Wizards.<\/p>\n

Read more Ryan Fox wins British Open with birdie on final hole<\/a><\/p>\n

Concerns about the WNBA\u2019s officiating practices have dominated the current season, which breaks for its All-Star festivities this week.<\/p>\n

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, the league\u2019s biggest star, has become the subject of widespread debate.\u00a0<\/p>\n

An outspoken contingent of her sizeable fanbase claims that Clark is subject to unfair physical levels of defense from opponents with little assistance from referees.<\/p>\n

The racial undertones have floated to the forefront, as Clark is a White woman in a predominantly Black league.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A group of 11 Republican members of Congress sent a letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert earlier this month demanding \u201caccountability\u201d and expressing concerns that the fouls on Clark \u201cmay be racially motivated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, players like Phoenix Mercury guard Alyssa Thomas have shared racist and homophobic messages they\u2019ve received from fans after playing against Clark.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s become a bit of a political football in this country, and I think that\u2019s incredibly unfair to her,\u201d NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said of Clark at last week\u2019s Game Plan Summit. \u201cI don\u2019t think that issue is ultimately about officiating. It\u2019s become political ping-pong with her.\u201d<\/p>\n

But at least one current player argued that Clark is treated differently from Reese, especially in light of Brondello\u2019s suspension.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Species\u2019 is the unfortunate and touchy word of this well-known phrase especially in the US\u2019 racially charged climate, but if she was saying it about [Clark] (an appropriate comparison re popularity) there would be no outrage, now would there,\u201d Toronto center Temi Fagbenle, Clark\u2019s former teammate, wrote on Threads. \u201cSuspension is laughable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Officiating became a focus for the WNBA over the offseason.<\/p>\n

After notably increased levels of physicality over the last two seasons, the league\u2019s officiating task force aimed to increase freedom of movement in 2026. The result was an increase in the number of foul calls, though many coaches and players have openly criticized a perceived lack of consistency.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe league has to do better,\u201d Clark said earlier this month.<\/p>\n

The WNBA has a process in place to address officiating concerns. Addressing concerns about racism toward players like Reese is a tougher task.<\/p>\n

Members of the players\u2019 association confirmed to several publications that they would hold a meeting with Engelbert during the All-Star break to discuss how the league can protect players from racial abuse.<\/p>\n

Read more Thunderstorms will clear wildfire smoke from Northeast ahead of World Cup final, meteorologists say<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The WNBA’s ongoing reckoning over refereeing and racial tensions escalated over the weekend as Toronto Tempo coach Sandy Brondello was suspended one game for calling Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese a “protected species” due to officials’ foul calls.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4521,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[280,142],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4522","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\nWNBA coach suspended over comments on Reese, officiating - Home Buyer Relocation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/homebuyerrelocation.com\/?p=4522\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"WNBA coach suspended over comments on Reese, officiating - 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