Sandy Brondello will miss one game after the WNBA suspended the Tempo head coach for a comment she made about Angel Reese. Brondello was heard referring to Reese as a "protected species," according to a report by ESPN.
The league moved quickly on the matter, handing down the one-game suspension after the remark became public. Brondello coaches the Tempo, one of the WNBA's newer franchises, and the comment drew immediate attention given the profile of Reese, one of the league's most prominent young players.
Reese, who plays for the Chicago Sky, has been a central figure in the WNBA's rising visibility over the past two seasons. She came into the league after a celebrated college career at LSU, and her games consistently draw strong viewership numbers.
The WNBA did not release details about the specific context in which Brondello made the remark, but the league determined the comment warranted discipline. One-game suspensions for coaches are relatively rare in the WNBA.
Brondello is a veteran coach with a long record in the league, including a championship with the Phoenix Mercury in 2014. The suspension puts her on the sideline for one game before she can return to coaching duties with the Tempo.
