The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) has deleted a video showing Atlanta Dream’s Angel Reese and Dallas Wings’ Paige Bueckers agreeing to a $400 wager on their upcoming game, labeling the exchange as a joke. The league’s swift action comes amid a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that strictly prohibits any form of betting on WNBA games.
The video, initially posted on the league’s social media accounts, showed Reese and Bueckers engaging in a playful wager during an All-Star practice session in Chicago. The $400 came from a shooting competition organized by Team Coop coach Becky Hammon, where Reese emerged victorious. Holding the four $100 bills, Reese told Bueckers, “I’m gonna see you next week on Wednesday. If y’all win, you get the $400.” Bueckers replied, “And if we lose, then you get to keep it,” to which Reese responded, “No, you owe me $400.”
Despite the lighthearted nature of the exchange, the league’s CBA explicitly bans players from wagering on WNBA games. The WNBA quickly removed the video and issued a statement saying the post was intended to be lighthearted but “missed the mark.” A league source told ESPN that neither player will face disciplinary action, but the incident has highlighted the need for clearer communication and enforcement of the betting rules.
The incident is particularly sensitive given the growing presence of prediction markets and betting platforms that offer wagers on WNBA games. Platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket, registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), list contracts covering game outcomes, championship winners, and other aspects of the league. The volume of trades on these platforms reached a record $44.8 billion in June, underscoring the increasing interest in sports betting.
Player associations across major U.S. leagues have already warned the CFTC about the integrity risks associated with individual-performance and negative-outcome markets. These risks include potential manipulation and bettor harassment. While the WNBA incident did not involve any allegations of manipulated play, it highlights the challenges the league faces in balancing player camaraderie with strict integrity rules.
The league’s decision to avoid treating the joke between two stars as an integrity offense is a pragmatic one. However, it leaves the boundary between playful banter and rule violations somewhat blurred. As the betting environment continues to expand, the WNBA will need to find a way to enforce its rules without stifling the camaraderie and fun that are part of the game.
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