{"id":809596,"date":"2026-07-19T05:27:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T05:27:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/809596\/"},"modified":"2026-07-19T05:27:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T05:27:14","slug":"aussie-basketball-coach-sandy-brondello-cops-wnba-ban-for-using-common-footy-term","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/809596\/","title":{"rendered":"Aussie basketball coach Sandy Brondello cops WNBA ban for using common footy term"},"content":{"rendered":"

Australian WNBA<\/a> coach Sandy Brondello has been suspended for one game for an inappropriate comment she used during a Toronto Tempo game against the Atlanta Dream on Friday.<\/p>\n

Bronello, who also coaches the Aussie Opals, will miss Monday\u2019s game against the Las Vegas Aces.<\/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 Saturday in a statement announcing the suspension.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

During\u00a0the 111-92 loss to the Dream, the broadcast picked up the Tempo\u2019s coach addressing officials after Toronto player Nyara Sabally went down with an injury after contact with Angel Reese. Sabally was called for the foul and Brondello could be heard saying Reese was a \u201cprotected species\u201d.<\/p>\n

Brondello\u00a0posted an apology on social media\u00a0on Saturday.<\/p>\n

\u201cAngel, I\u2019m sorry,\u201d Brondello said. \u201cLast night, in the emotion of the moment after Nyara\u2019s injury, I used a phrase that I shouldn\u2019t have used, and I take full responsibility for that. My frustration was with the officiating, but my words unfairly put the focus on you.<\/p>\n

\u201cI also understand that my words carried an impact beyond what I intended, particularly for black women in our league, and I\u2019m deeply sorry for that. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve spent my career competing with, coaching and learning from incredible black women.<\/p>\n

\u201cI regret that my words caused hurt to a community I respect so deeply. I have a lot of respect for you as both a player and a person, and I sincerely apologise to you, your teammates, and the Dream organisation for my comment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reese hit out at Brondello on social media after the game, posting: \u201cARE WE SURPRISED?!\u201d and tagging Brondello\u2019s account, followed by a clown face emoji.<\/p>\n

The \u201cprotected species\u201d phrase is commonly used in Australian sports to express frustration for a lack of calls against a player. However, in the US, the phrase suggests that someone isn\u2019t human and could be seen as derogatory toward black people.<\/p>\n

Brondello has been a head coach in the league since 2014, winning titles with Phoenix and New York.<\/p>\n

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