Only the WNBA can get embroiled in a self-inflicted controversy by turning a friendly $400 bet between two players into a gambling scandal. Even though the league didn’t let the video stay up that long, calls are already mounting for the WNBA to suspend Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese for betting on Wednesday’s Wings-Dreams game.
Actually, no one in the room cared when Bueckers and Reese sat down during All-Star Weekend and decided to place a friendly $400 bet on their next game. It was playful banter. For two rising players whose endorsement deals eclipse their league pay, $400 is perhaps chump change. But all hell broke loose when the WNBA’s social media team couldn’t help but share that exchange with the internet.
The league’s social media crew snipped the interaction and shared it on its official channels. The clips quoted the Dallas Wings guard justifying the bet ahead of the Wings-Dream game on July 29, 2026. There was only one obvious issue. The social media crew seems to have overlooked Section 5(c) of the WNBA’s own Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Article XIV, Section 5 of the WNBA’s new CBA addresses gambling. Under letter C, the regulation states:
“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.”
The CBA strictly outlaws betting and wagering, even if it’s a side bet between opponents or friends, no matter the channel or amount, which is why the WNBA world blew up immediately. In its zeal for clicks, the WNBA publicly aired a bet that raised red flags about its own CBA.
The video vanished fast. However, on the internet, deleted content seldom stays gone. The Bueckers-Reese exchange had already gone viral before the WNBA actually took down its post. And now, fans demand answers about whether or not the stars of the Wings and Atlanta Dream will be punished for their actions.
One X (formerly Twitter) post that soon went viral asked, “Will Angel and Paige be suspended by the WNBA for gambling on games in which they are involved?”
Another user questioned, “WNBA promotes all star weekend gambling between players on its OWN X ACCOUNT!! Idiots. I’m sure this is banned activity by terms of the CBA. Suspensions in order all around, right? Especially for Angel Reese, flashing the cash won?”
Sharing a snippet of the CBA rule, another user wrote, “Wait… so WNBA, when are we fining and suspending Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers?”
Tagging the WNBA commissioner, one user asked, “Any comments Cathy Engelbert? Or will u continue to hide like it seems u do for every controversy? How dumb is your staff to actually post this Cathy ?”
No Action Yet On Paige Bueckers And Angel Reese: The WNBA’s Silence
Bueckers and Reese, two of the top talents in the WNBA, are unlikely to be suspended by Engelbert for this since their bet would have little influence on their actions beyond making them more locked in for a win.
When Bueckers was called for a foul for standing her ground on Reese in the post, the Wings guard began clapping theatrically. It sparked a heated altercation between the two during the first quarter.
Nonetheless, the two players violated a WNBA guideline and may face disciplinary action, as may the person who first shared the video to the league’s social media account.
As of this writing, neither player has been subject to a ban or other disciplinary action. Fans and the media were left in the dark after the WNBA removed the video without making a public comment. The WNBA has mostly refrained from commenting on gambling-related issues, according to media sources.
