The Toronto Tempo head coach, Sandy Brondello, has landed in hot water after her recent statement about Angel Reese went viral. She allegedly called the center a “protected species” in the fourth quarter while she was in conversation with the officials. And now, fans are claiming that the phrase had a racial connotation attached to it.
The Atlanta Dream won the game, 111-92, as all the starters scored in double digits. Though the fourth quarter was heated, the Dream registered an important consecutive victory. Coach Brondello wasn’t seemingly happy with the officiating, and in a frustrating tone, called Reese a “protected species.”
After Brondello’s statement sparked a debate on social media, a user called out the Tempo coach for her statement, and Reese responded:
“ARE WE SURPRISED?! @SBrondello”
Meanwhile, Australian fans have supported the HC, saying that in Australia, the usage of “species” was common for referring to someone with a unique feature. But it has more meaning. In sports terminology, it can also refer to someone who is “receiving preferential treatment from the game’s referees.”
A user wrote in the comments:
“It’s common Australian slang”
Angel Reese and a section of fans seemed to have been convinced that coach Brondello made a racist remark. Given that she hails from Australia, it can also be a common slang term that she uses in her daily life. Regardless, the Tempo HC has become another popular topic in the WNBA world.
“Angel is just so crafty,” Sandy Brondello talks about Angel Reese’s value on the team
After the Tempo lost the game, coach Sandy Brondello addressed the media and talked about Angel Reese and her value in the Dream’s squad. She scored 23 points and 12 points, along with three steals.
The Tempo head coach said:
“Angel is just so crafty. Her ability to anticipate where the ball’s coming in and her positioning to get offensive rebounds and putbacks is elite. That’s why she’s so good at what she does. I think she’s improved her moves off the dribble. They put her in face-ups too, and she’s attacking it.”
The coach has not yet addressed the viral sentence publicly. Given the record of the team this season, she would look to avoid such polarization and focus on the team’s offense and strategy.
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