The WNBA addressed the situation involving stars Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese, who were shown in a social media post betting $400 on their teams’ game outcomes. The league deemed the post as “missing the mark.” However, Bueckers and Reese will not face any punishment, according to a source who spoke to The Associated Press under anonymity due to the matter’s sensitivity.
The video originated from All-Star Weekend before Wednesday night’s game between Bueckers’ Dallas Wings and Reese’s Atlanta Dream. It depicted the two players seemingly making a personal wager, captioned humorously with “We did?” and included emojis.
The WNBA swiftly deleted the post after it spread on social media. A league spokesperson stated that while the post was meant to be lighthearted, it contradicted the league’s policies prohibiting betting on WNBA games. Players receive annual training on these policies. The league acknowledged the mistake, removed the post shortly after publication, and addressed the issue internally.
The incident was treated as an opportunity to remind the involved players that discussing wagers, even jokingly, can have unintended consequences. The players’ teams, the Wings and the Dream, deferred comments to the league’s statement.
According to the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement, wagering of any kind is forbidden and can result in fines, suspensions, or disqualification by the commissioner’s discretion.
The Dream made a significant comeback to win against the Wings 82-81 on Wednesday. Reese contributed 22 points and 12 rebounds, while Bueckers finished with 16 points and six assists.
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