The WNBA has suspended Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese and Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers for 10 games each and fined both players $20,000 following a brief social media firestorm over an alleged betting video.
The controversy erupted when the league’s official account posted, then quickly deleted, a short clip that appeared to show the two rising stars placing wagers related to their own game. Fans immediately screenshotted and shared the footage, accusing the league of failing to police its own rules against players betting on WNBA contests.
Within hours, the post vanished. The sudden deletion only intensified the backlash. Hashtags demanding accountability trended as supporters and critics debated whether the video was authentic, edited, or simply poorly timed content. Many pointed to the league’s strict anti-gambling policy, which prohibits players from betting on any WNBA games.
On Thursday, the WNBA released a statement confirming the suspensions. “Player participation in any form of betting on league competition is a clear violation of our rules and undermines the integrity of the game,” the league said. “After a thorough review, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers have been suspended for 10 games and fined $20,000 each.”
Neither player has publicly commented. Sources close to both camps described the players as “shocked” by the speed of the decision and suggested the deleted video may have been taken out of context. The league has not released the footage or detailed its internal investigation.
The timing could not be worse for a league still working to capitalize on its recent surge in popularity. Reese and Bueckers are among the faces of the next generation, and their absences will be felt immediately by both the Sky and the Wings.
Social media remains divided. Some fans praised the league for acting swiftly. Others called the punishment excessive and questioned why the original video was ever posted. For now, the two stars will sit out the next 10 games while the league hopes the controversy fades as quickly as the deleted clip.