The WNBA has been accused of bringing a gambling scandal upon itself by deleting a video that showed two star players betting on a game.
Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers were filmed making a friendly wager of $400 on the outcome of the Dallas Wings and Atlanta Dream game that took place on Wednesday night.
The WNBA’s social media team filmed themselves asking Bueckers, who plays for the Wings, about the bet when she arrived at the arena before the game.
‘At All-Star Weekend, you and Angel made a bet on this game, is that right?’ the person behind the camera asks. An awkward Bueckers then replies: ‘We did?’
The clip then cuts to footage of Reese holding some hundred-dollar bills as they appear to commit to the bet during practice before last week’s All-Star game in Chicago.
The league’s official X account posted the video online on Wednesday night with the caption: ‘Paige Bueckers on the bet she made with Angel Reese at All-Star Weekend on tonight’s matchup.’
The WNBA deleted a video of Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers gambling on their own game
Bueckers was then asked about the bet before Wednesday’s game, in the now-deleted clip
But, just hours later, the clip had been removed from the WNBA’s social media accounts.
A WNBA spokesperson said in a statement to The Daily Mail: ‘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. 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 video could become the center of a gambling scandal for two of the WNBA’s biggest names because the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement clearly outlines rules on betting.
It states in Section 5(c) that: ‘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.’
It remains to be seen whether or not WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will punish Bueckers and Reese but it’s another contentious issue that the WNBA certainly doesn’t need right now.
Caitlin Clark, the WNBA’s golden goose, admitted last week she’s been left ’emotionally exhausted’ by the scrutiny and brutal play she’s been on the receiving end of again this season.
Meanwhile, tensions ran high at the Indiana Fever’s game against the Seattle Storm on Tuesday night following Sophie Cunningham’s decision to underline her support for protecting women’s sports, insisting women ‘shouldn’t have to go against biological men.’
Reese and the Dream beat Buckers’ Wings in their first game after the WNBA’s All-Star break
Two young women accused Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton of calling them ‘f***ing insane’ and berating them over their support for Cunningham.
Storm Majority Owner Ginny Gilder said in a statement: ‘We are aware one of our co-owners made comments to two fans in attendance at last night’s game. We apologize that this happened.
‘Everyone who attends a Storm game deserves to feel welcome, and we remain committed to creating an inclusive environment where every fan is treated with respect.’
Keaton was fined and banned from the Storm’s next five home games on Thursday.
As for the game itself, the Dream overcame a 15-point deficit to beat the Wings 82-81 on Wednesday night in the first game for both teams since the All-Star break.
Reese had 22 points and 12 rebounds for her 18th double-double of the season for the Dream, who have have won four in a row and five of six following a five-game losing streak.
Arike Ogunbowale led Dallas with 24 points. Azzi Fudd scored 20 points, Bueckers had 16 points and Jessica Shepard had 16 points and 14 rebounds for her WNBA-leading 19th double-double of the season.
