WNBA Coach Suspended Over "Protected Species" Remark About Black Player — Common Aussie Slang, but Read as Racist in the US

Head coach of the new WNBA franchise Toronto Tempo, Sandy Brondello, has been suspended for one game without pay over a phrase the league deemed racially insensitive. The incident occurred during a game against the Atlanta Dream, which the home side lost 92:111.

The controversy began when Toronto's Naz Hillmon [Naiara Saballi] collided with Atlanta's Angel Reese and was injured, with officials calling a foul on the home team. Courtside microphones picked up Brondello referring to Reese, the visiting player, as a "protected species."

That phrase alone triggered the uproar. In Australian sporting culture, where the coach is from, the expression is typically used ironically — describing a player whom officials, in the opponents' view, shield too much and favor with overly lenient calls. In the United States, however, the phrase carries a very different, deeply offensive meaning when applied to Black athletes — implying they are somehow not treated as full equals, with racist undertones.

Although the incident was most likely an unfortunate misunderstanding, league officials decided to punish the coach with a one-game suspension.

Brondello issued a public apology. "I have enormous respect for Angel, and I wanted her to know this was said in the heat of the moment. It's a completely ordinary expression back home in Australia. It wasn't directed at her personally. I would never say anything like that about any player — it's simply not who I am, either as a coach or as a former athlete," she told The Guardian.

"It was an unpleasant situation. I was very upset that Naz [Naiara] had been injured again. I said something we Australians use casually all the time. Unfortunately, I should have taken a breath first and remembered I was in the United States, where the subject of race is extremely sensitive," the coach added, noting that nothing like this had happened to her in 27 years in the league.

Angel Reese herself accepted the apology. "First and foremost, I appreciate Sandy's apology, but I appreciate just as much the support and love I've received over the last 48 hours," said the 24-year-old, who posted a double-double in that game — 23 points and 12 rebounds.

"I'm glad the league took action on this. There's no room in our league for discrimination or hate — no matter where it comes from, whether fans, coaches or players. I'm glad we can now move forward and focus on winning. The WNBA should be a place of positivity, and right now the league is heading in the right direction. I want that to continue," Reese added.

Around Prague, based on reporting by sport.cz