Angel Reese accidentally peddles racism theory after WNBA coach calls her two names
Riley Gaines: Caitlin Clark’s abuse was motivated by jealousy, not race or gender
Riley Gaines addresses the controversy surrounding WNBA star Caitlin Clark, asserting that the concern about Clark stems from her special talent, not her race or gender. Gaines suggests that jealousy from other players fuels abuse on the field and the league’s “arrogant” nature. He questions the double standards applied to different athletes.
On the night that Caitlin Clark walked out of court, Angel Reese walked out … of court.
Is the WNBA a content machine, or what?! Credit where it’s due, this league just won’t stop. Summertime is their time, and they don’t let it go to waste.
Let’s dive in.
Reese and the Atlanta Dream defeated the Toronto Tempo, 111-92, on Friday night. Reese finished with 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting, adding 12 rebounds. He was ruling. I’m not here to disparage Reese’s performance on the floor, because it was very good.
Statistics don’t lie. As they say, numbers are numbers. Well done, Angel.
Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese talks with game official Tiara Cruse after playing against the Toronto Tempo during the second half at the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario. John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images (John E. Sokolowski/Images)
Now, it did not come without controversy. You always they need controversy in the WNBA, and it usually has to do with racism. That’s the buzz word right now.
Reese and Tempo forward Nyara Sabally collided late in the game, and Sabally suffered a rib injury but was eventually called for a shooting foul. Finally he had to be helped in court.
While on the floor, Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello came to confess to the officials, and a hot microphone captured part of the conversation.
It was then that Brondello called Reese a “protected type,” thereby sending the WNBA world into a frenzy because, of course, it was considered racist.
Listen to:
Angel Reese pushes the narrative out of context
“Calling a black woman a type of…” one fan wrote on X, to which Reese responded, “ARE WE SURPRISED?!” while also tagging Brondello in the post.
Right there! A story as old as time.
Here’s the thing: This was not a racist comment. Come on. Context, as always, matters when it comes to these things. Usually, this is where common sense prevails.
Sandy Brondello is from Australia. A quick Google search would have shown that the term “protected species” is misused for someone receiving special treatment. Fans were quick to point that out on social media, by the way. But it fell on deaf ears.
In fact, it shouldn’t even have taken a Google search to find that out.
“Protected species” is the name of the sport forever. It’s used all the time in the NFL, especially by quarterbacks.
Patrick Mahomes is a protected species. It’s a running joke during the NFL season because quarterbacks seem to get flagged when they breathe on him.
Tom Brady was a protected animal.
LeBron James wasted decades getting calls about his Hall of Fame hitting the floor. You are a protected species.
In baseball, veteran hitters and pitchers tend to get calls that other players don’t. Veteran players can be considered a protected species. There’s a reason Justin Verlander gets called in the corner if the rookie doesn’t get it.
In college football, you could argue that the entire state of Alabama was a protected animal during the Nick Saban years.
Again, this is not a new word. It is not a racist word. A sports term that has been around forever.
Angel Reese of the Atlanta Dream watches before the WNBA game against the Toronto Tempo at the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Canada, on July 17, 2026. (Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
The problem? Angel Reese is black, and the internet has a listening ear. So, someone posts that they were called “types,” and Reese sells the narrative by retweeting it with a sarcastic comment and a funny emoji.
That is stupid. That makes no sense. In fact, it is dangerous.
Earlier this week, a fan was fired for allegedly sending WNBA player Chelsea Gray a racial slur after a game. He shared it online, it became popular, and the man’s job eventually fired him.
That’s right. If you’re going to play silly games, you’re going to win silly prizes. The evidence was wrong on that one.
Angel Reese of the Atlanta Dream reacts after hitting a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Sparks at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Ga., on July 13, 2026. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
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But this? This is not the story that Angel Reese chose to inspire by pushing this story to his 740,000 followers.
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Now, there is no he talks about his big game on the floor. Instead, they only scream “PAIN!”
Par for the WNBA course.
