Professional athletes are now joining the trend of organizing book clubs for their teams. 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 have a book club consisting of Will Smith, Macklin Celebrini, Tyler Toffoli, and Ty Dellandrea. The players have made it a playful secret not to reveal the books they are reading.

Athletes from the PWHL and the WNBA, including teams like Toronto Sceptres, Montreal Victoire, Toronto Tempo, and New York Liberty, are also engaging in book club activities for bonding. Toronto Sceptres forward Claire Dalton shared her enthusiasm for reading, mentioning the natural progression of starting a book club in Toronto after being part of one in Montreal. The Sceptres’ book club, initiated by Dalton and goalie Raygan Kirk, meets over coffee during the season to discuss various books.

The Toronto Tempo, a new WNBA team formed through an expansion draft, has also embraced the book club concept. Guard Kia Nurse revealed that the idea stemmed from teammate Nyara Sabally, a passionate reader from her time with the New York Liberty. The book club serves as a platform for the team to build camaraderie off the court, a crucial element in team success.

Nurse highlighted the significance of reading as an escape for athletes, providing a different identity beyond sports. The book clubs have garnered significant attention on social media, with fans eager to know the team’s reading choices. In a community initiative, the Toronto Sceptres collaborated with The Children’s Book Bank, hosting a storytelling event that promoted reading and literacy among children. The event featured players reading hockey-themed books and engaging in discussions with the young audience, fostering a love for reading in the community.