‘This is really bad’: Criticism mounts for WNBA after latest self-inflicted scandal
· Yahoo Sports
The WNBA has had its fair share of PR nightmares throughout this season, but the most recent one is actually quite self-inflicted, which has led to even more criticism.
Earlier this week, the WNBA’s official X account shared a video showing Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers seemingly making a personal $400 bet over which team would come out on top in Wednesday night’s matchup between the Dream and the Wings. The issue, however, is that this type of wager is expressly prohibited under WNBA rules. The league ultimately removed the video, creating a sticky situation and a lot of criticism.
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Reese, Bueckers Bet
This week, the WNBA posted a video on X highlighting what appeared to be a wager between Reese and Bueckers.
The post was originally framed as a playful and lighthearted exchange.
“If y’all win, you get this $400,” Reese said in the video.
“And if we lose, you get to keep it?” Bueckers responded.
“No, then you owe me $400,” Reese said.
The video then transitioned to footage of Bueckers seemingly reaffirming the wager shortly before Wednesday night’s game.
“Bet,” Buckers said. “I’m standing on it. I’m standing on it.”
Following the game, which the Dream won 82-81, Reese appeared to acknowledge the bet during her postgame press conference.
“I’ll be requesting my Apple Pay after this,” Reese said when asked about the bet with Bueckers.
Against League Rules
Although the exchange may have been intended as nothing more than a friendly bet between competitors, it directly conflicts with league policy.
The league’s new CBA makes it clear that all forms of wagering are prohibited, with potential penalties ranging from fines and suspensions to permanent disqualification from the WNBA at the commissioner’s discretion.
“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,” Section 5(c) of the new WNBA CBA states.
Seemingly recognizing that the wager violated the league’s own rules, the WNBA quickly removed the video from its social media accounts, though not before it had been saved and reshared by multiple users.
WNBA Faces Criticism
While it’s difficult to imagine commissioner Cathy Engelbert imposing severe discipline on two of the league’s biggest stars over what appeared to be a friendly wager, the situation nonetheless represents a clear violation of league policy, and it only makes the whole situation more embarrassing that the league promoted it on its own social channels.
“The WNBA posted a video of Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers betting $400 on which woman’s team would win. Then deleted it after realizing this violates league rules. This entire league is run by morons,” prominent right wing sports commentator Clay Travis wrote in a post on X. “I can’t even comprehend how dumb you have to be to post this video from the league’s official account. Like sub 70 IQ. And how stupid are the players too?! On video bets with cash being shown? Players in the NFL have missed entire seasons for this. Legit the dumbest move, potentially, in social media history by a sports league to post this.”
“Find me dumber people than those who run the WNBA. I dare you,” longtime college football recruiting analyst Mike Farrell wrote in a post.
“Unserious league to post this. It’s just so poorly run,” Geoff Schwartz of Fox Sports wrote in a post on X. “Like does it really matter they had a friendly $500 wager on the game. No. But it’s a bad look for the league to be promoting this when it’s illegal in the CBA.”
“WNBA steps on another rake,” wrote Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports.
“Discernment is the No. 1 trait a successful social media manager needs to have. Know the situation, know the optics and most importantly know the rules. This is really BAD!” wrote college athletics communications expert Vincent Briedis.
“WNBA is reaching the point where they [mess] up so much it becomes good. It’s just their brand now. People tune in every day to see what they’ll [mess] up next,” wrote John Rich of Barstool Sports.
One way or another, it’s pretty clear that the league is going to have to address this in some capacity.
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