REFILE-Basketball-LA Sparks general manager ditched after rant at players
- Country:
- United States
The general manager of the Los Angeles Sparks Women's NBA team was fired on Friday after ESPN reported that she made racially insensitive remarks in a profanity-laced rant at the players.
Penny Toler's tirade came after the Sparks last month lost game two of their WNBA semi-finals against the Connecticut Sun, who went on to sweep the series 3-0. Toler, who is African-American, acknowledged in an interview with ESPN on Thursday that she had used a racial epithet but said her remarks were not directed at the players.
"By no means did I call my players the n-word," she said. "I'm not saying that I couldn't have used it in a context, but it wasn't directed at any of my players."
Toler had been with the organization since 1999 Sparks managing partner and governor Eric Holoman said in a statement: "On behalf of ownership and the entire Sparks organization, I'd like to thank Penny Toler for a successful and historic tenure with the organization," .
"Penny is a foundational figure in the growth of the WNBA and helped lead our franchise to perennial playoff success and multiple titles."
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
- READ MORE ON:
- ESPN
- general manager
- players
- NBA
- WNBA
- Sparks
- organization
- Penny
- AfricanAmerican
- partner
ALSO READ
"New Book 'Get Kids To Play' Sparks Global Movement to Prioritize Play for Children"
MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan sparks debate on 'local vs outsider' in Kamal Nath's stronghold
Lady Gaga spotted with diamond ring in her left hand, sparks engagement rumours
Basketball-'Unlike anyone we've seen': WNBA seizes Clark spotlight
Highest-level meeting between Chinese and North Korean officials in years sparks discussions on diplomatic relations