Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers and Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese will not be punished after a post from the WNBA’s official X account showing them making a friendly wager on Wednesday’s game went viral, according to multiple reports.
The league deleted the post, but it went viral as multiple accounts shared screen recordings of the original post. 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.
“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 WNBA spokesperson said in a statement released to multiple media outlets. “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.”
In the clip, which was during WNBA All-Star weekend, Reese was holding four $100 bills while talking with Bueckers.
“If y’all lose,” Reese said.
“I get to have that?” Bueckers said.
“If y’all win you get the 400,” Reese said.
“And if we lose then you get to keep it.” Bueckers said.
“No, you owe me 400,” Reese said.
Bueckers and Reese played together on Team Coop during the WNBA All-Star game on Saturday. Wednesday’s game was the Wings’ first matchup after the All-Star break.
The Associated Press contributed to this post.