WNBA Addresses Controversial Social Media Post Involving Bet

The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) found itself in the social media spotlight following a controversial post, which was removed from the league’s official account on Wednesday. The post featured a video where Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese seemingly made a friendly $400 bet on the outcome of their upcoming game.

The video appeared to show Bueckers and Reese, players in the WNBA, engaging in behavior that seemed contrary to league policies. The post was swiftly deleted, and the WNBA issued a statement addressing the situation.

“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. We recognized that the post missed the mark, removed it shortly after it was published, and addressed the matter internally,” the WNBA stated via The Athletic.

The league also highlighted the importance of reiterating its wagering policies to the players involved. It emphasized that even joking about betting on games can lead to negative perceptions and consequences.

The game in question between the Atlanta Dream and the Dallas Wings concluded with an 82-81 victory for the Dream. Angel Reese delivered a standout performance, scoring 22 points, pulling down 12 rebounds, and adding four assists and four steals. Paige Bueckers contributed with 16 points, six assists, and four rebounds.

Following the game, Reese humorously remarked, “Yeah, I’ll be requesting my Apple Pay after this. Paige is a great player. To hold her to 16 points, it’s tough.”