Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese teamed up for Team Coop during the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game. Bueckers started in Team Coop's 129-122 loss to Team Spoon, playing 25 minutes, scoring 12 points on 5-for-11 shooting, and dishing out seven assists. Reese did not score in her nine minutes of playing time, although the 6-foot-4 forward secured five rebounds and four assists.
On Wednesday, before Reese's Atlanta Dream played Bueckers' Dallas Wings, the official WNBA account posted a video showing the two stars interacting. The video showed a friendly wager being placed on the game between the two stars. The video quickly sparked controversy and was quickly deleted.
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Atlanta defeated Dallas 82-81, with Reese scoring 22 points on 9-for-18 shooting while securing a team-high 12 rebounds for her 18th double-double of the season. Bueckers had an underwhelming performance, putting up numbers below her season averages, scoring 16 points (20.7 per game), dishing six assists (6.2), and securing four rebounds (4.2).
The WNBA strictly bans players from gambling, and on Thursday, the league came to a decision on the punishment the stars will receive. ESPN's Alexa Philippou reported on the incident on the social media platform X. Philippou first reported the WNBA's statement on the incident. The league explained how the video was meant to be lighthearted, recognized the bad optics, and would use this as a learning opportunity.
"While the social media post was intended to be lighthearted," Philippou wrote in a transcription of the WNBA spokesperson's statement, "WNBA players are well aware of the league's policies prohibiting betting on WNBA games and receive training every year reinforcing those policies. We recognized that the post missed the mark, removed it shortly after it was published, and addressed the matter internally. We will also use this as an opportunity to reemphasize to the players involved that conversations about wagering on WNBA games, even when intended as a joke, can have negative consequences."
Philippou continued her reporting, noting that there will be no punishment for Bueckers or Reese for the incident. Rather than put a further spotlight on the mishap, the league has decided to accept responsibility and move on from the incident.
"There will be no punishment for Reese or Bueckers," Philippou wrote on X. "Per source."
Dallas will head to CareFirst Arena to face the Washington Mystics on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET, and Atlanta will host the Seattle Storm at Gateway Center at the same time and on the same day.
