The WNBA has taken down a social media video displaying Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese speaking about an obvious $400 wager tied to a sport between their groups. The league later acknowledged that its try at humor had gone too far.
The dialog dated again to All-Star weekend, when Bueckers and Reese apparently agreed to place $400 on their matchup. The WNBA initially posted the clip by itself account, including the caption “We did?” and a laughing emoji, earlier than deleting it.
The league later advised ReadWrite that gamers obtain yearly instruction about its ban on betting on WNBA video games.
“Whereas the social media submit was meant to be lighthearted, WNBA gamers are nicely conscious of the league’s insurance policies prohibiting betting on WNBA video games and obtain coaching yearly reinforcing these insurance policies. We acknowledged that the submit missed the mark, eliminated it shortly after it was printed, and addressed the matter internally.
“We can even use this as a chance to reemphasize with the gamers concerned that conversations about wagering on WNBA video games, even when meant as a joke, can have detrimental penalties.”
Bueckers and Reese trade clashes with WNBA betting guidelines
An interviewer raised the topic with Bueckers, asking whether or not the settlement made with Reese throughout All-Star weekend remained in place.
“At All-Star weekend, you and Angel made a wager with one another on this sport. Is that wager nonetheless on?” the interviewer requested.
“We did. That is how the wealthy keep wealthy,” Bueckers replied.
From there, the gamers talked by way of what the winner would obtain. Reese stated, “If y’all win—if y’all win, you get $400.”
“I get $400,” Bueckers replied.
Reese later stated, “Wager. I’m standing on it.”
“I’m standing on it,” Bueckers responded.
WNBA guidelines bar gamers from wagering on league competitors. After a listening to, the Commissioner can punish a participant discovered to have immediately or not directly wagered, or tried to wager, cash or one thing beneficial on a WNBA sport’s final result, rating or one other ingredient.
Accessible sanctions vary from fines and suspensions to dismissal or disqualification from additional WNBA involvement.
No punishment for Bueckers or Reese was introduced within the league’s assertion. As an alternative, the WNBA stated the scenario had been dealt with internally and would immediate one other reminder about its playing insurance policies.
The episode additionally comes as skilled basketball faces wider scrutiny round playing. In November 2025, the NBA requested paperwork and cellphone information from a number of groups, together with the Los Angeles Lakers, following a federal unlawful playing investigation.
At the least 10 Lakers workers had cooperated with authorities. The broader NBA playing scrutiny has additionally included Jontay Porter’s lifetime ban after the league discovered he intentionally restricted his participation for betting functions, together with different federal and league investigations.
Featured picture: John McClellan by way of Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
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