WNBA coach facing backlash over Angel Reese incident

Fans are not happy with Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello following a heated moment involving Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese.

The Dream dominated the Tempo on Sunday with a commanding 102-77 road win at Coca-Cola Coliseum.

Things got ugly late. Isabelle Harrison committed a Flagrant 2 on Reese with under four minutes remaining. She pulled her to the floor and drew an immediate ejection. Reese was visibly emotional after the hard foul. Tensions between the two had been simmering throughout the contest.

Amid the commotion, Brondello approached the scene and appeared to have directed some words toward Reese. What exactly she said remains unclear.

Whatever it was, it was enough to set Reese’s supporters on fire across social media.

What did Sandy Brondello just call Angel Reese bro?

A ticking species?

Out of line pic.twitter.com/cq3xoxotIu

— TimeoutSPORTS__ (@TimeoutSPORTS3) July 18, 2026

Sandy Brondello Draws Online Fury After Angel Reese Altercation

Fans flooded X with their frustrations, and the responses were pointed.

“this is completely unacceptable and disgusting what????!,” one user wrote.

“This makes me very aware that she was alright with Izzy wanting to hurt Angel,” another commented.

“Brondello said protected species. Which is just not applicable to Angel at all, she gets fouled and bashed every game w no call by refs,” a third chimed in.

“Like her player foul angel,” one user noted.

“Watch ya mouth Brondello. Ny fouled her,” another added.

“Sounds like downton Abby or something,” one fan quipped.

Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello laughs on the bench during warm ups before a game against the Atlanta Dream at Coca-Cola Coliseum.

Reese and the Dream had the last laugh. The two-time All-Star turned in a dominant performance despite the chaos, finishing with 15 points and 17 rebounds.

Her 11 offensive rebounds set a career high and tied for the second-most in a single game in WNBA history. It was her ninth double-double in 13 games.

For context, Reese alone outworked the entire Tempo starting five, which combined for 14 boards. Toronto managed just five offensive rebounds as a team.