Gambling on the Menstrual Cycles of WNBA Athletes

The intersection of sports and personal health: when men place bets on physiological occurrences.

While it might sound bizarre, this is a growing practice among some sports gamblers focusing on the WNBA.

This unconventional betting tactic has gained traction as the WNBA season progresses towards its climax in a face-off between the Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury. A number of zealous gamblers are speculating on players' performances by inferring details about their menstrual cycles. Unsurprisingly, some have called it 'blood money.'

A notable figure within this niche is a bettor known online as 'FadeMeBets.' He's drawn considerable attention on social media platforms such as Instagram for his predictions linked to these physiological cycles. He claims a success rate of 11 correct predictions out of 16 attempts based on menstrual information, translating to about 68.75% accuracy. FadeMeBets mentions the double-edged impact: increased viewership for the WNBA but primarily from a bettors' perspective.

With this season attracting record-breaking audiences, interest in women's basketball is on the rise, evidenced by expanded attendance and greater public engagement, thanks in part to standout players like Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, and Caitlin Clark.

This booming interest in the league has been paralleled by a surge in betting activities, where some wagers are influenced by pseudoscientific beliefs about women's periods—an approach criticized as both unscientific and discriminatory.

Sports medicine experts point out the variability in women's cycles, highlighting that the common 28-day cycle doesn't apply universally. Each person's experience is unique, fluctuating monthly, making it impractical for outsiders to make accurate predictions.

FadeMeBets himself concedes that his betting strategy is more art than science. His videos often begin ominously with 'We've got a victim, boys,' referring to betting odds rather than individuals, before delving into the nuances of where a player might be in their menstrual cycle. For example, he might forecast decreased performance during the late luteal phase based on general trends, even though player-specific data is not collected.

In one instance, he advised betting against Clark scoring more than the bookmakers' estimate due to her supposed low-energy phase, a prediction that came true.

To form these predictions, he evaluates players' performance records, drawing from their collegiate and professional statistics across a roughly month-long cycle, looking for recurring patterns. However, these conclusions are often speculative at best.

Some of his content has sparked conversation, though often met with skepticism or critique, like on a radio show where one host found the method distasteful, yet possibly effective.

Alternatively, influencer Colin Myers applied a more direct approach by referencing a player's public acknowledgment of her cycle to advise his own betting circle.

In academic circles, there are ongoing investigations into how menstruation affects athletic performance, yet many factors such as birth control complicate any attempts at generalization.

Recognizing these complexities, FadeMeBets attempts to tailor his analyses to those he believes show discernible trends, ceasing predictions when results don't corroborate the model.

Despite anecdotal reports of menstrual phases affecting athletes' self-judged performances, scientific consensus doesn't support the theory as universally applicable.

In some cases, researchers observe that certain hormone levels during menstruation could even enhance performance, though these effects highly vary.

Nadya Okamoto, known for promoting menstrual-positive discourse, argues this betting practice sustains harmful stereotypes about menstruators being irrational or less capable.

Okamoto fears that the trope of using periods as a label for mood swings or inefficiency may additionally spill over into personal relationships for those engrossed in such content.

Recognizing the unkind nature of many in betting circles, FadeMeBets has reflected on his behavior, noting instances where he hopes to mitigate potential for misleading perceptions.

One of the core issues within women's professional sports is pay inequality; top WNBA players earn significantly less than their NBA counterparts. Okamoto warns against narratives that exaggerate physiological hindrances, as they risk reinforcing barriers to gender equity in sports.