Toronto Tempo center Temi Fagbenle publicly defended head coach Sandy Brondello after the WNBA issued a one-game suspension for Brondello's "protected species" remark about Angel Reese. The comment occurred during the Tempo’s 111-92 loss to the Atlanta Dream on Friday night, July 18, 2026.

The incident unfolded when Toronto's Nyara Sabally was called for a foul on Reese after an offensive rebound. As the call was being reviewed, Brondello was heard yelling at the referees, saying, "Angel, she's a protected species!"

Brondello later apologized, stating, "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."

She added, "I also understand that my words carried an impact beyond what I intended, particularly for Black women in our league, and I'm deeply sorry for that. 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."

Fagbenle, who played alongside Caitlin Clark at the Indiana Fever, reacted to the suspension on her Threads account, writing, "’Protected species’ is a figure of speech and I see nothing suspension-worthy with what @brondellosandy said."

The WNBA's decision and Fagbenle's defense have sparked discussion among fans and players alike.

Sources