Uncertainty Looms for Paige Bueckers, Brittney Griner & Others After Soccer Star Leaves Wasserman

There seems to be plenty of uncertainty in the WNBA right now. As everyone waits to see what the future holds for young stars like Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark, a fresh development has emerged that could spark another wave of drama across the league.

Paige Bueckers, Brittney Griner, Breanna Stewart, Gabby Williams, and many other W stars share one thing in common: they are represented by Wasserman. The agency, founded by Casey Wasserman, has recently seen a wave of athletes and entertainers depart.

The development comes after a collection of explicit and compromising emails between Casey Wasserman and Ghislaine Maxwell surfaced among millions of heavily redacted pages and images related to Jeffrey Epstein that the Pam Bondi–led Department of Justice released on January 30.

After the emails surfaced, Casey Wasserman released a statement saying, “I deeply regret my correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell,” noting it took place “long before her horrific crimes came to light.” He added that he never had a personal or business relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and expressed regret for any association with either of them.

Even after the apology, the association has led some Wasserman clients to question whether they want to remain with the firm.

For some, the decision has already been made. Abby Wambach announced Wednesday that she is severing ties with Wasserman after two decades, making her the first athlete to depart. “I read Casey Wasserman’s correspondences in the Epstein files,” she wrote on Instagram. “I know what I know, and I am following my gut and my values. I will not participate in any business arrangement under his leadership.”

Wambach, a two-time gold medalist and the U.S. national team’s all-time leading scorer, is not alone in stepping away from Wasserman. Singer Chappell Roan also confirmed she is leaving the agency, writing, “No artist, agent, or employee should ever be expected to defend or overlook actions that conflict so deeply with our own moral values.”

With WNBA superstars like Paige Bueckers, Brittney Griner, Breanna Stewart, Maya Moore, Diana Taurasi, and Gabby Williams on its roster, Wasserman represents some of the sport’s most outspoken figures, which could complicate matters now that Casey Wasserman is set to stay on as head of the 2028 Summer Olympics. It remains to be seen what decision the likes of Paige Bueckers and Brittney Griner ultimately make.

For now, Unrivaled is in full swing, and Paige is already delivering the kind of moments fans have come to expect from her.

Paige Bueckers Shines in Unrivaled 1-on-1 Tournament

On February 11, Unrivaled paused its scheduled 3-on-3 action to stage what might already be the most entertaining women’s basketball event of the year. Thirty-two elite players battled for a $200,000 grand prize in the league’s one-on-one tournament, and after round one, a few walked away with early bragging rights.

One of them was Paige Bueckers herself, who took down Kate Martin 12–5 in their first-round matchup. The WNBA Rookie of the Year never gave Martin a real opening, racing to an eight-point lead early and staying firmly in control. She got the better of Martin on multiple occasions, including a crafty up-and-under that brought her total to eight points. Despite the Valkyries’ star’s efforts to rally late, Paige Buckets finished an efficient 6-of-10 from the floor, while she struggled, going just 2-of-7.

Up next for Paige is a second-round clash with fellow Wings star Arike Ogunbowale, setting the stage for a friendly but fierce battle on the horizon.

And while Bueckers handled the first matchup with ease, Ogunbowale delivered a full-on beatdown, too. She cruised past Brittney Sykes 11–2, shooting a near-perfect 5-of-6 from the floor. Now, the teammates will face off in the second round on Friday, February 13. Tip-off time is yet to be announced.