Book clubs are gaining popularity among professional athletes as a new trend emerges. Notable personalities like Dua Lipa, Morgann Book, Reese Witherspoon, and Oprah have their own book clubs. Surprisingly, athletes are also jumping on the bandwagon, with NBA players Victor Wembanyama and Harrison Barnes from the San Antonio Spurs leading the way by organizing a book club for their team members.
In the NHL, the San Jose Sharks, including Will Smith, Macklin Celebrini, Tyler Toffoli, and Ty Dellandrea, have a mysterious book club where the players keep their reading choices under wraps, turning it into a running joke among them. Athletes from the PWHL and the WNBA, such as the Toronto Sceptres, Montreal Victoire, Toronto Tempo, and New York Liberty, also engage in book club activities to bond and relax.
Toronto Sceptres forward Claire Dalton, a book club enthusiast, initiated the team’s book club with goalie Raygan Kirk to discuss various reads and unwind together. The club, which met during the season over coffee, delved into books like “Gone Before Goodbye” and “The Heir Apparent.” As of the last count, around 15 Sceptres players actively participated in the club, although roster changes may affect the numbers in the upcoming season.
The Toronto Tempo’s book club was inspired by guard Kia Nurse and her teammate Nyara Sabally, who introduced the idea to the team. With six or seven players eager to join, the book club served as a platform for the newly formed WNBA team to foster off-court chemistry following the expansion draft.
For Nurse, reading is not only an escape but also a way to shape her identity beyond sports achievements. The impact of these book clubs extends beyond the teams, resonating with fans and communities. Events like the Sceptres Storytime, in collaboration with The Children’s Book Bank, promote reading as a fun and collective activity, inspiring children to explore books and diverse reading role models.
By showcasing athletes’ involvement in book clubs, these initiatives challenge stereotypes and encourage a love for reading among younger audiences. The idea that anyone can be a reader, regardless of background or profession, is a powerful message that these athletes are helping to convey through their shared love for books.
