Professional athletes are now joining the trend of organizing book clubs for their teammates, adding a new twist to the popular book club phenomenon. NBA players Victor Wembanyama and Harrison Barnes of the San Antonio Spurs have initiated a book club to encourage more team members to participate. Similarly, the NHL’s San Jose Sharks, including players Will Smith, Macklin Celebrini, Tyler Toffoli, and Ty Dellandrea, have formed a book club where the books being read are kept secret, creating a humorous mystery within the team.
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 and relax off the field. Claire Dalton, a forward for the Toronto Sceptres, shared that her passion for reading led to the establishment of a book club within the team. The club, co-founded with goalie Raygan Kirk, gathers over coffee during the season to discuss various books, including titles like “Gone Before Goodbye” and “The Heir Apparent.”
The Toronto Tempo, a newly formed team in the WNBA, has also embraced the book club concept as a means to foster team chemistry. Guard Kia Nurse initiated the Tempo’s book club inspired by her teammate Nyara Sabally, who previously played for the New York Liberty. The book club discussions have provided a platform for the players to understand each other better through diverse perspectives on the books they read.
Athletes like Nurse have found solace in reading as a form of escape from the pressures of their athletic careers. Reading offers them a way to unwind and explore different worlds beyond the realm of sports. The impact of these sports teams’ book clubs extends beyond the players, as evident from the community engagement sparked by the Toronto Sceptres’ book club. Collaborating with The Children’s Book Bank, the Sceptres organized a community event called Sceptres Storytime, promoting reading and literacy among children through engaging activities and book discussions led by the players.
By showcasing their love for reading and participating in book clubs, athletes are not only enhancing team dynamics but also inspiring communities to embrace reading as a fun and collective activity. The positive influence of these book clubs goes beyond the sports arena, encouraging diverse reading habits and fostering a love for books among fans and young readers.