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The WNBA said it deleted a social media post showing Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese appearing to bet $400 on the outcome of a game, calling the message a misstep and using the incident to reinforce its anti-betting rules.
According to the league, the post was meant to be lighthearted. But after it was published and then shared on social media, the WNBA removed it shortly afterward.
A league spokesperson said, “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 spokesperson added that the league “recognized that the post missed the mark, removed it shortly after it was published, and addressed the matter internally.”
A person with direct knowledge told The Associated Press that Bueckers and Reese will not be punished.
What is clear from the league’s response is that the WNBA is treating even joking or informal wagering references as a compliance issue. The league also said it will use the episode to remind the players involved that conversations about betting on WNBA games can carry negative consequences.
That matters because the WNBA collective bargaining agreement says any kind of wagering is strictly prohibited. Under that standard, discipline can include fines, suspension or disqualification at the commissioner’s discretion.
The game tied to the post was Wednesday’s matchup between the Dallas Wings and Atlanta Dream. Atlanta came back from a 15-point deficit to beat Dallas 82-81. Reese finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds, while Bueckers had 16 points and six assists.
For readers following sports-betting integrity issues, the main takeaway is narrower than the game result: the league moved quickly to remove the content and publicly restate that betting on WNBA games is off-limits for players.
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Source: As reported by midfloridanewspapers.com.
