"Sheryl Swoopes Unleashes the Cosmic Truth Behind Sandy Brondello’s ‘Protected Species’ Remark on Angel Reese!"
Added on July 19, 2026 inFree CelebrityNews, Sports
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WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes isn’t just shooting hoops in the court of life—she’s dribbling through some serious drama! After an eyebrow-raising comment from Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello about Angel Reese went viral, Swoopes jumped into the fray, offering her fiery take on the matter. It’s kind of like the moon in retrograde; sometimes it brings out the unexpected, right? On Instagram, Swoopes didn’t just stay on the sidelines; she shared a captivating screenshot that reframed Brondello’s words, sparking even more buzz. So, what led to this on-court confrontation of words? Well, after Brondello faced backlash, she issued an apology—yet for some, that just didn’t cut it. Buckle up—this is one ride through the world of sports and social commentary that’s as bumpy as a Mercury retrograde!
WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes is the latest public figure to speak out about Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello’s offensive comment about Angel Reese.
On Instagram, the 4x WNBA champion shared a screenshot with a different interpretation of Brondello’s phrase and explained why people were so shaken up by it.
Brondello apologized to Angel Reese after getting backlash; however, for some, it wasn’t enough.
Swoopes has consistently defended Reese, backing the former LSU standout in interviews and during game broadcasts. She continued that trend this weekend, calling out Brondello in a post on her Instagram Stories.
“Wow!” Swoopes captioned a post that offered a different interpretation of the phrase “protected species.” The screenshot defined a protected species as “a plant or animal safeguarded by law, making it illegal to harm, kill, capture, or disturb them without special authorization.”
Swoopes added, “Plant or animal is wild! For those [who] are unclear of the offense! THIS!!!”
ARE WE SURPRISED?! @SBrondello 🤡 https://t.co/moNbYdDYo3
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) July 18, 2026
Drama exploded after Reese’s Atlanta Dream defeated Brondello and the Toronto Tempo on Friday, July 17. According to The Blast, the live broadcast caught Brondello calling Reese a “protected species” while screaming at the officials late in the fourth quarter.
Her comments turned heads, and Reese defenders quickly called Brondello out for using language they deemed racist and problematic. Reese also defended herself, appearing to call Brondello a clown in a new tweet that read, “ARE WE SURPRISED!?”
The moment came after one of Brondello’s players was called for a foul on Reese. During the play, Reese bumped into the player, sending her to the ground before they exited the game with a rib injury.
Angel, I’m sorry. 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.
— Sandy Brondello (@SBrondello) July 18, 2026
The noise around Brondello’s comment only got louder on Saturday, July 18, prompting the former New York Liberty coach to issue what appeared to be a heartfelt apology.
“Angel, I’m sorry,” Brondello posted. “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.”
Brondello went on to talk about the immeasurable impact that Black women have had on the WNBA since its inception and shared that she’s spent her career playing with, coaching, and learning from the best of them.
“I 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 apologize to you, your teammates, and the Dream organization for my comment,” she ended.
While Brondello’s apology was likely appreciated by some, the WNBA still suspended the coach for one game. On July 18, the league released a statement and said Brondello would miss her team’s Monday game (without pay) against the Las Vegas Aces “for an inappropriate comment she made regarding Angel Reese.”
“The WNBA expects all coaches and team personnel to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and respect that are fundamental to our league,” the statement finished.
The Atlanta Dream defeated the Tempo 111-92 on Friday in a high-scoring, entertaining matchup.
Per ESPN, Naz Hillmon led the Dream in scoring, recording 24 points on a perfect shooting night and going 8-of-8 from the charity stripe.
Reese, on the other hand, scored 23 points from 7-of-11 shooting and also recorded 12 rebounds, giving the 24-year-old her 17th double-double of the season.
Jordin Canada had 18 points and 13 assists, and Allisha Gray also had 18 points.
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