Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers were having a conversation that any two friends who love sports have. But what was not normal about this entire situation was that the WNBA and its parent company, the NBA, do not allow players to bet on their games.
The Atlanta Dream forward won $400 in a friendly competition among her All-Star teammates. After that win, she taunted the Dallas Wings guard and her close friend. That is why no one batted an eyelid when the video of them wagering that $400 on their next game initially made its rounds on social media.
All hell broke loose when the WNBA's social media team decided to make a 'fun' video out of it, and even went on to post it on their X page moments before the game between the Dream and the Dallas Wings.
Once a fan account pointed out that the league was indirectly promoting betting between players on its games, the page took the video down. But by then, the damage had been done.
Fans demanded that the league take action against its staffer for their unprofessionalism, and also against both the players, as such acts are forbidden. The league came out with a response and a decision:
A WNBA spokesperson said while the social media post showing Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers discussing a wager was intended to be 'lighthearted' it 'missed the mark.' I'm told there will be no punishment for players.
Annie Costabille revealed on XThis means that the league is not only dismissing the incident as something between friends, but also avoiding having to punish both the young superstars.
Every other major sports league has strict rules when it comes to players betting on its games. It is prohibited, even if said in passing, as it draws a lot of unwanted situations that leagues tend to avoid.
In the past, the NBA has suspended players, and that is why fans were annoyed that the WNBA let Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers off the hook this easily. They believe that this was favoritism at work. Check out examples of those reactions below.
The wager was nothing more than a friendly one between two close friends. Maybe that is why the WNBA decided not to make this any worse than it already is.
The problem with this entire fiasco is that, on one hand, fans and the media are demanding answers after two of the WNBA's most recognizable faces engaged in betting, and the league itself decided to promote it. On the other hand, trying to brush it off as a 'lighthearted' event is a direct violation of its own rule.
Any player found by the Commissioner after a hearing to have been guilty of wagering (directly or indirectly), or of offering or attempting to wager, money or anything of value on the outcome, score, or any other aspect of any WNBA Competition shall, in the sole discretion of the Commissioner, be subject to a fine, suspension, and/or dismissal and disqualification from any further association with the WNBA.
Article XIV, Section 5(c) of the current CBAThis means that, by the very rule both players and the league decided upon this past offseason, both Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers need to be reprimanded.
The problem with not doing so is that the WNBA is already in the line of sight of some members of Congress after they recently sent a warning letter to commissionerCathy Engelbert. The league should hope that they do not see this as a glaring example of breaking the law and invoke a federal investigation into the WNBA's actions.
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