Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese recently responded in a press conference to Toronto Tempo coach Sandy Brondello’s public apology. On Friday, the Tempo and the Dream matched up, with the broadcast picking up Brondello allegedly calling Reese a “protected species.” Since then, the women’s basketball world has called out Brondello for the comment, including Reese, to whom she later apologized publicly on X/Twitter.
Reese’s response on Sunday centers on acknowledging Brondello’s apology but also highlights the support she has received from the public for the incident. The young talent also discussed how there is no room for discrimination or hate in the WNBA. American columnist Jason Whitlock has since
dismissed Reese’s response on X/Twitter a day later, noting Reese’s apparent immaturity.
“Centering the emotions and sensibilities of feminist women is destroying free speech and American culture. The WNBA is normalizing cultural standards that are unsustainable. Apologies and suspensions because Angel Reese has the vocabulary and logic of a child,” Whitlock wrote.
Whitlock’s disagreement with Reese’s response to Brondello has since sparked discussions on the X/Twitter thread. Onlookers are divided on the 59-year-old’s take, as it is about the WNBA overall, and not just the Reese-Brondello situation. Nevertheless, Reese and the rest of coach Karl Smesko’s team ended up beating the Tempo that day by 19 points, 111-92, in away territory. For Brondello, she was suspended for a game following the incident.
Sandy Brondello explained that her comment on Angel Reese is common in Australia
On Sunday, July 19, ESPN insider Kareem Copeland
released a report wherein Sandy Brondello addressed the situation between her and Angel Reese just a day later. There, Brondello explained that her comment on Angel Reese is common in Australia, where she is from. She said that “protected species” is used in different sports in Australia to express frustration for lack of calls against an opposing player.
“Have a ton of respect for her, but I wanted to make sure that (she knows) it was an emotional statement. It’s a statement that’s very common in Australia, it wasn’t directed at Angel. I’d never do that to any kind of player. That’s not the kind of coach I am or player back in my day. It was just unfortunate. I was pretty emotional with Nyara (Sybally), her being injured again. I made a comment that, Australians, we say all the time,” Brondello was quoted as saying.
When Brondello called Reese a “protected species”, it was after one of the former’s players, Nyara Sybally, went down with an injury after receiving contact from Reese.
Read More:
Sheryl Swoopes Weighs In on Sandy Brondello’s ‘Protected Species’ Comment About Angel Reese After League Punishment
“Treated Her Like a Vanderbilt Player”: Jason Whitlock Blasts Stephanie White Over Lexie Hull’s Declining Role With the Indiana Fever
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