WNBA Addresses Social Media Post Over Betting Joke

The WNBA sparked significant discussion online following a post from its official account that has since been removed. This occurred before the Atlanta Dream faced off against the Dallas Wings.

In the post, the league shared a video showing players Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese humorously suggesting a $400 wager on their game results. The implication of league rule violation was clear, leading to the quick removal of the video.

On Thursday, the WNBA issued a statement, shared through The Athletic, clarifying 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 statement emphasized the importance of avoiding discussions on wagering, even light-hearted ones, as they can result in unintended misunderstandings.

In the game, the Dream clinched a narrow victory over the Wings with an 82-81 win. Angel Reese made a significant impact, with 22 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Meanwhile, Paige Bueckers contributed 16 points, six assists, and four rebounds.

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