WNBA Responds to Social Media Bet Between Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese

The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) addressed a recent social media post involving stars Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese. The post depicted the players betting $400 on the outcome of a game between Bueckers’ Dallas Wings and Reese’s Atlanta Dream. The league noted the post ‘missed the mark’ Thursday but confirmed the athletes would not face punishment.

The information came from a source familiar with the situation, who spoke to The Associated Press anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the topic.

The original video was shared during the All-Star Weekend, just days before the teams’ scheduled clash on Wednesday night. The clip showed Bueckers and Reese making a seemingly personal wager with a caption, ‘We did?’ accompanied by a laughing emoji and a reference to the bet.

The WNBA acted swiftly to delete the post, although it had already circulated on social media. A league spokesperson clarified the intention behind the post was humorous but acknowledged that it was inappropriate. WNBA players receive annual training on policies disallowing betting on league games.

‘We recognized that the post missed the mark, removed it shortly after it was published, and addressed the matter internally,’ stated the spokesperson.

The organization plans to use this incident to remind players about the negative impact of discussing wagering on league games, even in jest. The Dallas Wings and Atlanta Dream echoed the league’s statement when approached for comments.

Per the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement, any form of gambling is banned, with possible consequences including fines, suspension, or disqualification at the commissioner’s discretion.

In the closely contested match on Wednesday, the Dream overcame a 15-point gap to defeat the Wings 82-81. Reese contributed significantly with 22 points and 12 rebounds, while Bueckers scored 16 points and added six assists.