Toronto Tempo centre Temi Fagbenle, a former teammate of Caitlin Clark, has publicly defended Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello after the WNBA suspended her over a "protected species" remark about Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese. The comment was made courtside during Toronto's 111-92 defeat to the Atlanta Dream, after officials reviewed a foul call against Toronto's Nyara Sabally for a foul on Reese following an offensive rebound. The episode has become the latest flashpoint in an ongoing debate over how the league officiates and discusses star players, with Fagbenle's intervention adding a player's voice to criticism of the league's response.

As the referees reviewed the foul, courtside microphones picked up Brondello shouting towards officials, apparently objecting to what she saw as preferential treatment for Reese. The WNBA subsequently suspended her over the remark, a decision Fagbenle has now publicly pushed back against, arguing the punishment was unwarranted. The row comes amid a wider season-long controversy over refereeing standards and treatment of high-profile players, including Clark, which has repeatedly drawn scrutiny of the league's disciplinary approach.