Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese trade playful WNBA banter
Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese are representing Team USA at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin. Before the tournament, a lighthearted interview revisited a physical WNBA matchup between them, prompting Bueckers to joke that Reese gets a “special whistle” from referees.
The clip attracted attention online as another playful moment between the 2 young WNBA stars. The United States has since completed Group D with a 3-0 record and will face Hungary in the quarterfinals on September 10.
Bueckers recalled a physical WNBA matchup
Bueckers described a play in which Reese tried to post her up during a WNBA game. Bueckers said she held her position and told Reese that she was right there.
Reese then asked what the referee called on the play during their exchange. After Reese answered that it was a foul, Bueckers delivered the joke about a “special whistle.”
The comment was presented as banter
Bueckers’ remark appeared during a lighthearted question-and-answer segment rather than a formal complaint about officiating. The video showed the players discussing their competitive relationship while preparing for international competition.
The exchange does not establish that referees actually favor Reese. Bueckers made the statement as a joke, and available reporting does not identify any league finding supporting special treatment.
Reese has drawn frequent attention from officials
Angel Reese has received significant attention for her physical style of play and interactions during WNBA games. On August 28, she was assessed a technical foul against the Portland Fire that initially gave her eight technical fouls for the season.
The WNBA later rescinded that technical foul after reviewing the play. Reese remained at seven technical fouls and avoided the automatic one-game suspension that an eighth technical foul would have triggered.
The rescinded technical foul changed the situation
WNBA rules provide an automatic one-game suspension without pay when a player receives an eighth technical foul during the regular season. Reese was assessed what would have been her eighth technical during the fourth quarter of Atlanta’s August 28 loss to Portland, but the league rescinded the call hours later.
The reversal left Reese at seven technical fouls and made her eligible for Atlanta’s next game against Minnesota. The decision demonstrated that the league can review and overturn a technical-foul ruling after a game.
Reese entered 2026 with a new team
Reese began the 2026 season with the Atlanta Dream after Chicago traded her in April. Atlanta acquired Reese in exchange for first-round picks in 2027 and 2028, along with a second-round pick swap in 2028.
Before the trade, Reese had spent her first two WNBA seasons with Chicago. The Sky selected her seventh overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
Bueckers is in her second WNBA season
Bueckers joined the Dallas Wings after being selected first overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft. She won the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year award and entered 2026 as an established starter.
The WNBA announced that Bueckers was selected as a 2026 All-Star starter for the second straight season. She was also the leading vote-getter in the league’s 2026 All-Star fan voting.
Both players made the 2026 All-Star Game
Reese and Bueckers were selected for the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game, which was played in Chicago in July. Bueckers started for Team Coop, while Reese joined the same team as a reserve.
Their All-Star selections reflected their continued prominence in the league. Reese made her third All-Star team in her first three WNBA seasons, while Bueckers earned her second selection.
Interesting fact: The WNBA added five new referees to its officiating staff for the 2026 season. The additions included officials promoted from the NBA G League, while longtime referee Eric Brewton moved into a development and performance role.
Their rivalry has continued into international play
Bueckers and Reese moved from WNBA opponents to national teammates on the 2026 USA Women’s National Team at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin.
The tournament began on September 4 and runs through September 13. The United States went 3-0 in Group D and advanced to a September 10 quarterfinal against Hungary as it pursues a fifth consecutive World Cup title.
Interesting fact: The WNBA Players Association was created in 1998 as the first labor union for professional women athletes.
Bueckers is making her World Cup debut
The 2026 tournament marks Bueckers’ first FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup appearance with the senior national team. Her international career with USA Basketball began at the 2017 FIBA U16 Women’s Americas Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Bueckers later won gold medals with USA youth teams before reaching the senior roster. Her World Cup debut places her alongside established American veterans in Germany.
Reese also made her World Cup debut
Reese made her FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup debut for the United States in Berlin on September 4. FIBA listed her on the 2026 U.S. roster, and she has appeared during the team’s unbeaten run through Group D.
Her selection followed 3 consecutive WNBA All-Star appearances. Reese entered the tournament alongside Bueckers and veteran U.S. stars, including A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart.
The United States faced a four-team group
The United States competed in Group D against China, Italy, and Czechia at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. The tournament returned to a 16-team field after featuring 12 teams in 2022; it was not the first Women’s World Cup with 16 teams.
The Americans beat China 94-61 on September 4, Italy 55-52 on September 6, and Czechia 105-64 on September 7. They advanced directly to a September 10 quarterfinal against Hungary with Bueckers and Reese on the roster.
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The whistle joke arrives before a major tournament
Bueckers’ “special whistle” comment came before she and Reese began representing the United States together at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin. Their conversation revisited a past WNBA play, and neither player offered evidence that referees systematically favor Reese.
The tournament began on September 4, with FIBA officials overseeing the games. The United States finished Group D with a 3-0 record and will face Hungary in the quarterfinals on September 10.
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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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