Professional athletes are joining the book club trend, organizing reading groups for their teammates. In the NBA, San Antonio Spurs players Victor Wembanyama and Harrison Barnes are leading a book club initiative to encourage more team members to participate. Similarly, the NHL’s San Jose Sharks, including Will Smith, Macklin Celebrini, Tyler Toffoli, and Ty Dellandrea, have a book club where players keep their reading choices under wraps, turning it into a playful secret.
Athletes from the PWHL and the WNBA, such as the Toronto Sceptres, Montreal Victoire, Toronto Tempo, and New York Liberty, have also embraced book clubs as a way to bond. Claire Dalton, a forward for the Toronto Sceptres, shared that her team’s book club stemmed from her experience with the Montreal Victoire, emphasizing the natural progression of the activity to Toronto. The Sceptres’ book club, initiated by Dalton and goalie Raygan Kirk, has facilitated discussions on books like “Gone Before Goodbye” and “The Heir Apparent.”
The Toronto Tempo, a new WNBA expansion team, initiated a book club inspired by guard Kia Nurse and teammate Nyara Sabally’s shared love for reading. The team’s first book selection, “It Should Have Been You” by Andrea Mara, was discussed during a plane journey, signifying the team’s commitment to building off-court camaraderie through literary exploration.
Engaging in book clubs offers athletes a valuable escape from the pressures of their sports careers. Kia Nurse emphasized how reading allows her to explore different worlds and characters, providing a refreshing break from the intense focus on athletic performance. Additionally, sharing their book club experiences has resonated with fans, as seen through the Toronto Sceptres’ social media engagement and collaboration with The Children’s Book Bank for community events like Sceptres Storytime.
The collaboration with The Children’s Book Bank not only promotes reading but also showcases diverse role models, like Raygan Kirk and Jessie McPherson, to inspire children to embrace reading as a fun and enriching activity. By bridging the gap between academics and athletics, these initiatives aim to break stereotypes and encourage young readers to cultivate a love for books.