Angel Reese made her first public statement Sunday after Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello was suspended one game for an "inappropriate comment" made in reference to the Atlanta Dream forward during Friday's encounter between the two teams.
Reese expressed appreciation for the apology Brondello issued on social media as well as the love and support she's received from fans over the last few days.
"I am grateful that the league did take action. ... There's no place for discrimination or hate in this league from anyone, from fans to coaches to players," Reese told reporters, including ClutchPoints' Malik Brown, prior to Sunday's contest against the Chicago Sky.
"And I'm just grateful that we are able to move on from the situation, and just play winning basketball. The WNBA is supposed to be positive, and we are going in a great light right now, so I just want to continue that and move forward."
Brondello appeared to refer to Reese as a "protected species" following a late-game sequence Friday.
"It was an emotional statement. And it's a statement that's ... very common in Australia," the former Coach of the Year told reporters Sunday, including Hoop There It Is. "I should've took a breath and realized where I am ... because I know racism is such a big issue here (in America)."
Brondello added that she reached out to the Dream organization immediately after Friday's contest in hopes of speaking with Reese.
"I wanted to apologize whenever Angel's ready," Brondello said. "I have reached out to their organization ... because I never want that to happen to anyone."
Brondello added: "I felt mad at myself because I'm a part of the solution, not the problem. So, hopefully I can have that chat. She gets to know me and my heart. I think everyone else that I've coached in this league, they know that, and what I'm about. And I'll try to be better."
Brondello will serve her one-game suspension Monday when the Tempo take on the Las Vegas Aces.
