07/30/26 01:03:00
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07/30 13:01 CDT Social media post showing Bueckers and Reese betting on game
'missed the mark,' WNBA says
Social media post showing Bueckers and Reese betting on game 'missed the mark,'
WNBA says
By DOUG FEINBERG
AP Basketball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --- A social media post showing stars Paige Bueckers and Angel
Reese betting $400 on the outcome of a game between their teams "missed the
mark," the WNBA said Thursday.
The players won't be punished for the bet, a person with direct knowledge of
the matter told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition
of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.
The league posted the initial video from All-Star Weekend, days before
Bueckers' Dallas Wings and Reese's Atlanta Dream were set to play Wednesday
night. The clip featured Bueckers and Reese placing what appeared to be a
personal wager on the game. It was presented with the caption, "We did?" with a
laughing emoji followed by, "Paige Bueckers on the bet she made with Angel
Reese at All-Star Weekend on tonight's matchup."
The WNBA moved quickly to delete the message, but not before it was shared on
social media.
"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," a league spokesperson
said Thursday. "We recognized that the post missed the mark, removed it shortly
after it was published, and addressed the matter internally.
"We will also use this as an opportunity to reemphasize with the players
involved that conversations about wagering on WNBA games, even when intended as
a joke, can have negative consequences."
The Wings and the Dream both deferred to the league statement when asked for
comment.
The league's collective bargaining agreement states that any kind of wagering
is strictly prohibited and that players can be fined, suspended or even
disqualified from the WNBA at the sole discretion of the commissioner.
The Dream rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat the Wings 82-81 on Wednesday,
with Reese notching 22 points and 12 rebounds and Bueckers finishing with 16
points and six assists.
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WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
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