The WNBA is investigating LA Sparks General Manager Penny Toler after the exec. admitted to using the N-word in an emotional post-game outburst in the team locker room after a loss.
Toler -- who is African American -- went off on the team after the Sparks lost Game 2 of the WNBA Semi-finals to the Connecticut Sun on Sept. 19th.
Several players, who didn't wish to be named, spoke with ESPN's Ramona Shelburne about the incident ... saying Toler called them "motherf*ckers" and showed "total disrespect."
53-year-old Toler says "it's unfortunate" she used the N-word but insists, "By no means did I call my players the N-word.