Home / Sports / WNBA Stars' Friendly Wager Sparks Betting Scandal Concerns
WNBA Stars' Friendly Wager Sparks Betting Scandal Concerns
30 Jul
Summary
- WNBA stars Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese made a $400 bet.
- A league video of the bet was posted and later deleted.
- The wager occurred during All-Star Weekend practice.
The WNBA is facing a potential gambling scandal involving two of its prominent stars, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese. An official WNBA X account posted a video, later deleted, showcasing Bueckers and Reese making a friendly wager of $400 during All-Star Weekend practice for a recent game.
The video captured the players agreeing to the bet, with a reminder about it posted on game day. This incident comes at a time of increased scrutiny regarding sports betting by professional and college athletes.
The WNBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement includes a clause prohibiting players from wagering on any aspect of a WNBA Competition, with penalties ranging from fines to suspension or dismissal.
Following the Dream's victory over the Wings, Reese posted on X referencing the bet with '#cuatrocientos'. While Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is unlikely to ban the stars, as the wager had no influence on gameplay, they did violate WNBA rules.
The league is also likely investigating who posted the video. The WNBA aims to avoid any perception of endorsing game-day gambling and prevent the incident from escalating into a larger controversy.
