WNBA Says Social Media Post Showing Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese Betting on Game ‘Missed the Mark’
The WNBA said a social media post showing stars Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese appearing to bet $400 on the outcome of a game between their teams “missed the mark,” but neither player will face punishment over the wager, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter.
The person told The Associated Press that the players will not be disciplined and spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity surrounding the situation.
WNBA removes post featuring Bueckers and Reese wager
The league initially shared the video during All-Star Weekend, shortly before Bueckers’ Dallas Wings were scheduled to face Reese’s Atlanta Dream on Wednesday night.
The clip showed Bueckers and Reese appearing to make a personal wager on the game. The post was presented in a lighthearted manner, including a caption referring to Bueckers’ bet with Reese on their teams’ matchup.
The WNBA deleted the post shortly after publishing it, although it had already been shared across social media.
WNBA reiterates policy against betting on games
The league said its players are aware of the policies that prohibit betting on WNBA games. According to the league, players receive annual training designed to reinforce those rules.
“While the social media post was intended to be lighthearted, WNBA players are well aware of the league’s policies prohibiting betting on WNBA games and receive training every year reinforcing those policies,”
The WNBA said it recognised that the post was inappropriate in the context of its betting policies and removed it before addressing the issue internally.
The league also said the incident would provide an opportunity to reinforce with the players involved that discussions about wagering on WNBA games can have negative consequences even when intended as a joke.
Bueckers and Reese will not be punished
A person with direct knowledge of the matter told AP that Bueckers and Reese will not be punished for the bet. The source did not speak publicly and requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.
The Dallas Wings and Atlanta Dream both directed questions about the incident to the WNBA’s statement rather than providing separate comments.
Social media post sparks discussion ahead of matchup
The controversy emerged just before the Wings and Dream were scheduled to meet, with the league’s own social media post drawing attention to the apparent wager between two of the WNBA’s prominent young stars.
By removing the post and addressing the matter internally, the league said it intended to reinforce the importance of its betting rules while acknowledging that the original post had been presented as a joke.
Source: AP News
