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WNBA Will Not Punish Reese, Bueckers for Fake Bet

Two of the WNBA’s biggest young stars nearly violated the league’s policy against betting on games. In a viral video on social media, Angel Reese (ATL) and Paige Bueckers (DAL) jokingly wagered on an upcoming game between the Dream and the Wings. The WNBA has announced the pair of rising stars will not be punished for their fake bet.

What Game Did Reese and Bueckers Bet On?

Betting on women’s basketball can be a lot of fun, but not when the players on the court are the ones placing the wagers. During the WNBA All-Star Weekend, Reese and Bueckers appeared to make a wager on the upcoming game between the Wings and the Dream.

The video of Reese and Bueckers agreeing to the bet went viral on social media. It was so popular that the WNBA even shared the video but later took down the post.

Dallas faced Atlanta on July 29th in both teams’ first game post-All-Star Break. Atlanta won the game 82-81, improving to 3-0 against the Wings this season.

How Much Did Bueckers and Reese Pretend to Bet?

Reese and Bueckers “jokingly” wagered $400 on their July 29th matchup.

In the video, Reese is holding $400 and says that if Dallas wins, then Bueckers gets the money. However, if Reese and Atlanta win, then Bueckers owes Reese $400. It is not clear where the money in the video originally came from.

Bueckers appears to agree to the bet. However, when approached by media members the day of the game. Bueckers appeared to not remember taking the wager.

After the Dream won the game, Reese said in her post-game presser that she would be “requesting [her] Apple Pay” from Bueckers. Reese also referenced the bet in a social media post after the game.

Reese and Bueckers Escape Punishment for Pretend Gambling

All signs point to Reese and Bueckers agreeing to a friendly $400 wager on their July 29th matchup. The bet itself would violate the WNBA’s strict anti-gambling rules.

Despite the evidence, the league announced neither player would face punishment for the alleged wager.

According to the WNBA, the “lighthearted” video was intended as a joke. The league removed the video shortly after it was posted and addressed the issue internally. Dallas and Atlanta both declined to comment on the situation, deferring to the league’s statement on the issue.