WNBA

The WNBA is *attempting* to put out a fire they ignited ... after the league's own social media team posted video of hoop stars Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers seemingly making a $400 wager on a Dream-Wings Game -- before scrambling to delete it.

Addressing the viral controversy for the first time, the much-maligned league put out a statement insisting the whole thing was a joke that got out of hand.

"While the social media post was intended to be lighthearted, 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."

11:38 AM PT -- The WNBA is breaking its silence on the controversy ... and the league's chalking it all up to a joke that went too far.

The WNBA is backpedaling on a social media post that promoted two of its biggest stars violating league policy ... scrubbing a video of Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese putting $400 on the outcome of a game from its X account.

The friendly wager was made during All-Star Weekend ... with Bueckers and Reese agreeing to shell out four crisp $100 bills if their respective teams lost in Wednesday's showdown.

"I know y'all gonna lose ... but if y'all win, you get the 400," Reese said in the clip while holding a wad of cash.

WNBA player Sophie Cunningham isn't backing down from her comments on trans athletes in women's sports ... and she doesn't think her stance is all that controversial.

The Indiana Fever guard shared her opinion on the polarizing topic in an interview with ESPN this week ... where she claimed she felt a duty to "protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men."

Cunningham was asked to expand on the quote when meeting with the media on Wednesday ... and she made it clear that's how she feels.

The WNBA just punished Alyssa Thomas for putting her fist on Caitlin Clark's throat during Wednesday night's game.

The league dropped the news minutes ago ... saying it reviewed footage from the Indiana Fever vs. Phoenix Mercury matchup and determined Thomas deserved a flagrant foul 2 penalty and one-game suspension for "recklessly making contact with her fist" to Clark's throat area.

The moment was deemed to be a "non-basketball act" ... which went down with 6:52 remaining in the second quarter of the contest.

Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White is fed up with how Caitlin Clark is getting treated during games ... and a fist to the hooper's throat seemed like the last straw.

The league's biggest name was roughed up during the Fever's 111-109 loss to the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday ... a contest Clark left in the third quarter due to back issues.

Prior to her departure, Clark was at the center of two incidents White considered to be "cheap shots" ... including one that spread like wildfire on social media.

Angel McCoughtry isn't buying Dana White's explanation for why the UFC doesn't hold Pride Nights ... calling the stance hypocritical and arguing the LGBTQ+ community deserves the same visibility other groups receive through major sports organizations.

The star WNBA player joined us on "TMZ Live" and said Dana's argument that sexuality is a personal matter, not a workplace issue, doesn't hold up. In her view, the same logic could be applied to other groups, such as the military, which sports leagues regularly choose to spotlight.

Angel argues that giving the LGBTQ+ community a platform wouldn't hurt anyone and could actually help closeted athletes feel more comfortable being themselves.

Talk about an Indiana Fever -- Caitlin Clark battled an illness during Thursday night's game against the Atlanta Dream ... and it was so rough, the WNBA superstar had to leave the court to vomit amid the action.

The moment went down as both teams were gearing up for the second half of the Commissioner's Cup matchup at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse ... when all of a sudden, Clark jetted to the nearest trash can to blow chunks.

Clark told reporters she was under the weather and tried to eat some applesauce before the third quarter ... but ended up puking that out, as well as whatever else was in her stomach at the time.

Clark -- who appeared pretty ill after the contest -- told reporters she felt light for the rest of the outing as a result ... and the 83-71 victory had to serve as some great medicine, too.

Former WNBA player Kysre Gondrezick is preparing for a different kinda court over some fake news ... saying anyone who reported she was joining OnlyFans will be hearing from her legal team.

The fourth overall pick in the 2021 draft sent social media into a frenzy this week ... when she claimed a "link" would be added to her bio in 24 hours.

"Link in bio," of course, is a popular phrase used by adult models on X or Instagram (or so we're told) ... leading some folks to think this meant she had created an account on the sometimes X-rated subscription-based platform, especially since she shared the news with a sexy pic.

Hilary Duff's "luck ... or something" isn't running out anytime soon -- the former Disney star is now a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model!!

The publication shared the big news on Tuesday ... making the announcement alongside some jaw-dropping behind-the-scenes shots of the actress/singer showing off her beach bod as she posed for the camera.

Duff was in South Caicos for her shoot ... with Kat Irlin snapping the shots.

WNBA star Arike Ogunbowale is in the clear ... the battery charge against the hooper has been dropped, two months after she allegedly socked a security guard in his face at a famed Miami nightclub.

Ogunbowale, 29, was celebrating her team's championship in the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league -- her side gig when she isn't playing for the WNBA's Dallas Wings -- into the early morning hours at E11EVEN in South Beach ... when she was said to be involved in a dispute with other people at the club, prompting security to *attempt* to kick out a group that included the 4x WNBA All-Star.

That's when Arike was accused of hauling off on the guard, punching him in his grill, and causing him to fall to the ground.

Paige Bueckers just drew a line in the sand with Dallas media members ... telling them her relationship with fellow No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd is off limits.

The WNBA superstar kick-started her media day availability by making an announcement -- she will not speak on her romance with her now-teammate.

"Quite frankly, I believe me and Azzi's personal relationship is nobody's business but our own," Bueckers said. "And what we choose to share is completely up to us."

She went on to say they have both held themselves to high standards as professionals ... and they have never let their personal lives affect what happens on the court.

One of the most popular power couples in the sports world is no more -- Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird just announced they have broken up after 10 years together.

The two superstar athletes -- who got engaged in 2020, but never exchanged vows -- shared a joint statement on Friday ... admitting, "There really is no smooth or easy way to share this news."

"This hasn’t been an easy decision, but it’s one we’ve made together, with so much love, respect, and care for each other. We’ve shared a whole life over the last decade, through big moments and in quiet ones, and that is something we’ll always carry with us."

Nothing says "Atlanta" quite like a strip club ... and one popular male revue is offering Angel Reese a free show as a welcoming gift after being traded to the Dream!!

Hunk-O-Mania tells TMZ Sports the newest hooper in ATL can have a night of fun on the house after the shocking news broke that Reese was traded from the Chicago Sky in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2027 and 2028 drafts.

The famous chain -- which has a location in ATL -- told us it would be honored to host Reese and her friends to show what they have to offer.

The Chi Barbie is set to become the ATL Barbie ... 'cause Angel Reese is heading down south to Atlanta in a trade from the Sky to the Dream.

Taylor Rooks reported the news Monday morning, saying Chicago and Atlanta have agreed to terms that will unite the two-time All-Star with Brittney Griner, Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard.

In exchange for Reese, the Sky will be receiving two first-round picks from the Dream, with one in 2027 and the other in 2028.

Caitlin Clark can do it all on the court -- and on the sidelines, too -- 'cause the WNBA superstar put her photography skills to the test during the Indiana Pacers' home matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers!!

Clark was spotted courtside as the 'Cers welcomed LeBron James and Co. to town, where she picked up a camera to snap some flicks of the action.

From some of the photos Indiana shared, she's a total natural. However, the more impressive snaps were posted on her X account ... and she made sure everyone got the credit right.