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Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello<\/a> has apologized to Atlanta Dream<\/a> star Angel Reese<\/a> for a phrase she used while referencing Reese during Friday evening’s game<\/a>.<\/p>\n The incident happened while Brondello was expressing frustrations over officials. In a clip that’s blowing up on social media<\/a>, Brondello appears to say, “Angel, she’s a protected species.” Reese responded to Brondello’s comments<\/a> on social media by tagging her and saying, “ARE WE SURPRISED?!” with a clown emoji.<\/p>\n On Saturday, Brondello apologized to Reese with a lengthy series of social media posts. Her message was clear: She was upset with the officiating, not Reese, but she shouldn’t have made her comment regarding Reese.<\/p>\n “Angel, I’m sorry,” she states in the post on X<\/a>. “Last night, in the emotion of the moment after Nyara’s injury, I used a phrase that I shouldn’t 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 She added<\/a> that she understands her words “carried an impact beyond what I intended, particularly for Black women in our league, and I’m deeply sorry for that. I’ve spent my career competing with, coaching and learning from incredible Black women.”<\/p>\n “I regret that my words caused hurt to a community I respect so deeply,” she concluded<\/a>. “I have a lot of respect for you as both a player and a person, and I sincerely apologize to you, your teammates, and the Dream organization for my comment.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Reese is proving to be a critical part of the Dream’s lineup. In her inaugural season with the Dream after a trade<\/a> from the Chicago Sky<\/a>, Reese is averaging a career-high<\/a> 15.7 points per game, as well as 11.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.7 steals. She has also been a force in getting the Dream to being tied for first place in the Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nAngel Reese gets apology from Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello<\/h2>\n
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