Report: Penny Toler Used Racial Epithets, Called Sparks Players 'Motherf--kers'

Los Angeles Sparks general manager Penny Toler reportedly unleashed a profanity-laced tirade in an effort to motivate the team after their Game 2 loss to the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA semifinals.

Toler, who is black, told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne she may have used the N-word but not as a pejorative. Players who were in the locker room told Shelburne Toler called them "motherf--kers" and showed "total disrespect."

"By no means did I call my players the N-word," Toler told ESPN. "I'm not saying that I couldn't have used it in a context. But it wasn't directed at any of my players.

"It's unfortunate I used that word. I shouldn't. Nobody should. ... But you know, like I said, I'm not here to defend word by word by word what I said. I know some of the words that I'm being accused of are embellished. Did I give a speech that I hoped would get our team going? Yes.

"I think that this whole conversation has been taken out of context because when we lose, emotions are running high and, unfortunately, and obviously, some people feel some type of way."

Toler, 53, has been the Sparks' general manager since 1999. Sparks managing partner and governor Eric Holoman told Shelburne that no players have complained to the team about Toler's actions. 

Players who spoke to Shelburne did so anonymously. Numerous players said they found the comments offensive, and one player told ESPN she would not return to the franchise until the culture changes. Toler apologized if her words offended anyone but said she was simply trying to motivate the struggling team.

"I've been in sports my whole life," Toler said. "It's not about losing, it's how we're losing, when I know we have a lot more to give. So I come to the locker room and I'm trying to give us obviously a spirited speech to get everybody going, 'Hey, get up and let's get going.'

"If I offended someone, I didn't mean to offend anyone. But my point is, I was saying what I was thinking. And I have the right to do that as the GM. I've been the GM for 20 years and this is the first time something like this has occurred. Clearly, some people were offended. That wasn't the message I was going for, obviously. And that clearly is not the reason we lost Game 3. And if that was the reason, what was the reason we lost the first two? I wasn't in the locker room then."

The Sun swept the Sparks in three games to advance to the WNBA Finals. Game 3 was mired in controversy after Sparks coach Derek Fisher played star Candace Parker just 11 minutes in the loss. Some within the Sparks locker room said they believe Fisher's benching of Parker was in response to Toler's comments. Toler had called out Parker for her poor performance in Game 2.

Parker, Toler and Fisher are each expected back for the 2020 season.