The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) has declined to punish two players over a “friendly wager.”
According to an ESPN report published Thursday, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese will not face any penalties after a social media post “showed the two discussing a friendly wager prior to their teams’ matchup on Wednesday.”
“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 statement reads. “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 players’ individual teams have not made public comments about the story.
Article XIV, Section 5(c) of the league’s collective bargaining agreement strictly prohibits betting on games:
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.
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X users reacted to the lack of consequences:
Did yall really think they were going to do anything with their star players? No, @WNBA was never going to do that. They just set a precedence. Those two were so casual about it, you know others are doing it too.
— Don Winkler (@TheDon43210) July 30, 2026
If they were men, they would be in jail.
— Tired of being politically correct (@USBornNRaised) July 30, 2026
So, pro athletes betting on the games they play in is cool now?
Pete Rose to the baseball HOF immediately, yes?
— Tuscany Bay Productions (@TuscanyBayBooks) July 30, 2026
$400 is not a friendly wager. $5 or a steak dinner is a friendly wager!! Not $400. Maybe the gvt should look into this . Illegal gambling
— Otis Metcalf (@MetcalfOtis) July 30, 2026
*Bueckers and Reese deliberately violate league rules with video evidence*
League Office: No suspension.
*Aussie coach uses Aussie slang that has no racial connotation whatsoever*
League Office: Suspension and public condemnation for racism
Absolute embarassment of a league.
— JSM (@JSMBurner) July 30, 2026
That’s because they aren’t a real league. They are treated as seriously as they act.
— Jess Right (@Jess4u) July 30, 2026
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Sierra Marlee is a millennial whose hunger for the truth in a world of fake news has led her to write. Marlee also contributes to BizPac Review.
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