However, Reese and Bueckers drew a WNBA gambling-policy debate after a video showed them joking about a $400 wager. The exchange was recorded during WNBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago and drew scrutiny because league rules prohibit players from wagering on WNBA games. Atlanta later defeated Dallas 82-81.
The WNBA said the video was intended to be lighthearted but “missed the mark,” adding that the matter had been addressed internally and that no discipline was under consideration.
A friendly wager sparks unexpected league debate
The exchange took place during WNBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago, where Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers jokingly discussed a $400 wager on the July 29 game between the Atlanta Dream and Dallas Wings. A video showed Reese holding $400 in cash while the two discussed the bet.
Afterward, Atlanta defeated Dallas 82-81. As a result, after the game, Reese joked she would request Bueckers’ Apple Pay, bringing attention to the wager.
Moreover, the WNBA issued a statement on July 30, noting the social media post fell short. Additionally, the league said players receive annual training and that the incident was addressed internally, with no discipline under consideration.
Inside the bet between Reese and Bueckers
Paige Bueckers is a Dallas Wings guard playing her second WNBA season after winning the 2025 Rookie of the Year award. Angel Reese is in her third WNBA season and her first with the Atlanta Dream after being acquired from the Chicago Sky in April 2026.
The $400 wager was recorded during WNBA All-Star Weekend and concerned the July 29 matchup between their teams. In the video, Reese predicted Dallas would lose while Bueckers playfully agreed to the terms. The WNBA later characterized the exchange as a joke but reminded both players that conversations about wagering on league games can have negative consequences.
Atlanta ultimately won the game 82-81, with Reese recording 22 points and 12 rebounds. She often posts casual, relatable moments from her daily life on social platforms.
WNBA responds to the $400 wager
The WNBA delivered the primary public response to the wager involving Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers, saying the video was intended to be lighthearted but acknowledging that it “missed the mark” because WNBA players are prohibited from betting on league games. The league said it addressed the matter internally and would remind both players that even joking conversations about wagering can have negative consequences, with no disciplinary action under consideration.
Shaquille O’Neal also weighed in directly on the wager, calling it a “homeboy bet” in an interview with Fox News Digital and saying that if it counted as gambling at all, it would fall at the misdemeanor level. O’Neal, who has separately defended Reese and Washington Mystics rookie Lauren Betts against online bullying, argued that criticism of the two players over the wager should stop.
Why the WNBA’s gambling rule matters
The WNBA’s written policy is broader than rules aimed only at point shaving or match fixing. Under the league’s collective bargaining agreement, a player can face discipline for directly or indirectly wagering money or anything of value on the outcome, score, or any other aspect of a WNBA competition.
The policy, therefore, does not create a general exemption for a small or informal personal wager. WNBPA guidance has also emphasized that betting on WNBA or NBA games is prohibited regardless of the monetary value involved.
In the Reese-Bueckers case, however, the league treated the exchange as a joke rather than pursuing formal discipline. The WNBA addressed the situation internally and said it would use the incident to reinforce its gambling rules with the players involved.
Fun fact: Shaquille O’Neal earned four NBA championships and earned a place in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.
Media scrutiny follows Reese throughout her career
Reese has attracted substantial national attention since helping LSU win the 2023 NCAA championship. Her highly publicized matchups with Caitlin Clark became major storylines in college basketball and continued to generate attention after both players entered the WNBA.
Reese has also faced persistent criticism online and in sports media. In 2026, O’Neal publicly defended her and Lauren Betts against what he described as bullying and embarrassing commentary from online critics.
The $400 wager with Paige Bueckers drew renewed attention, but the WNBA took no disciplinary action. Reese has continued to excel, becoming the fastest player in WNBA history to record 50 career double-doubles.
Mentorship shapes Shaq’s ongoing support for Reese
Shaquille O’Neal has been a mentor to Angel Reese since her college career at LSU. Reese first joined Reebok while she was still at LSU, and O’Neal now serves as Reebok Basketball’s president. Reese has since become one of the brand’s signature athletes, with the Angel Reese 1 launching in 2025.
O’Neal has also publicly defended Reese against online criticism. During a 2026 appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, he criticized what he described as bullying against Reese and Washington Mystics rookie Lauren Betts, whom he had separately signed to Reebok as part of his role leading the brand’s basketball division.
What the WNBA decided about discipline
The WNBA has already decided how to handle the $400 wager involving Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers. On July 30, the league said it had addressed the matter internally, and reporting confirmed that no discipline was under consideration for either player.
The league’s collective bargaining agreement nevertheless gives the commissioner substantial authority in matters of genuine wagering. A player found to have wagered on a WNBA competition can face a fine, suspension, dismissal, or disqualification from further association with the league.
In this case, the WNBA characterized the exchange as a joke and said it would use the incident to remind the players that conversations about wagering on WNBA games can have negative consequences. Fans expect the league to strike a sensible balance between fairness and common sense.
The bigger picture for WNBA player conduct
The wager controversy illustrates the increased attention surrounding WNBA players as the league’s audience continues to grow. The WNBA has posted major gains in viewership and attendance in recent seasons. This increase has raised the visibility of on-court performances and off-court moments.
That visibility also places greater emphasis on league rules and player conduct. In the Reese-Bueckers case, the WNBA acknowledged that its own lighthearted social media post was inappropriate, removed it, and reinforced its prohibition on discussions about wagering on league games.
Reese has continued to establish herself as one of the league’s most productive rebounders. She became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 46 career double-doubles in 2025 and has since extended that record pace, becoming the fastest to reach 50.
Little-known fact: Reese became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 50 career double-doubles.
TL;DR
- Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers made a casual $400 wager during All-Star Weekend.
- Reese joked online about collecting the bet after a win over the Dallas Wings.
- Shaquille O’Neal said the WNBA should not discipline Reese over the friendly wager.
- O’Neal has mentored Reese since signing her to Reebok early in her professional career.
- The incident raises broader questions about how leagues should define acceptable personal wagers.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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