Professional athletes are now joining the trend of organizing book clubs for team bonding, a surprising twist in the book club craze. In the NBA, San Antonio Spurs players Victor Wembanyama and Harrison Barnes are spearheading a book club initiative to involve more teammates, as revealed in a video on the league’s YouTube channel. Similarly, the NHL’s San Jose Sharks boast a book club with members like Will Smith and Tyler Toffoli, where the book choices are kept secret, adding an element of mystery.
Athletes from the PWHL and the WNBA, including teams like Toronto Sceptres, Montreal Victoire, Toronto Tempo, and New York Liberty, are also embracing book clubs as a means of bonding. Claire Dalton, a forward for Toronto Sceptres, initiated the team’s book club with goalie Raygan Kirk, drawing inspiration from their past involvement in book clubs with other teams. The Sceptres’ book club gatherings during the season involved discussions on various books like “Gone Before Goodbye” and “The Heir Apparent,” fostering camaraderie among approximately 15 participating players.
The Toronto Tempo, a new addition to the WNBA this season, established a book club influenced by guard Kia Nurse and teammate Nyara Sabally, aiming to enhance team chemistry off the court. Nurse highlighted the value of understanding her teammates through book discussions, emphasizing the diverse interpretations characters and stories can evoke among readers. The Tempo’s inaugural book club session featured “It Should Have Been You” by Andrea Mara, organized conveniently during team travels.
For athletes like Nurse, reading serves as a vital escape from the pressures of sports, offering a distinct identity beyond athletic achievements. By engaging in book club activities, teams like the Sceptres and Tempo not only strengthen their internal connections but also inspire their fans. The Sceptres’ public promotion of their book club attracted significant interest, leading to collaborations with organizations like The Children’s Book Bank for community events such as Sceptres Storytime.
At the Sceptres Storytime event, goalies Kirk and Jessie McPherson engaged with children by reading “Breaking The Ice” and participating in a Q&A session, sparking enthusiasm for reading among the young audience. Such initiatives aim to break stereotypes and demonstrate that reading can be enjoyable and inclusive for everyone. The positive impact of athlete-led book clubs goes beyond team bonding, resonating with fans and communities, fostering a love for reading and learning.
