Professional athletes are now joining the book club trend, creating reading groups within their teams. In the NBA, San Antonio Spurs players Victor Wembanyama and Harrison Barnes are championing a book club, aiming to expand its membership. Similarly, the NHL’s San Jose Sharks have a secretive book club involving players like Will Smith and Tyler Toffoli.
Athletes from the PWHL and the WNBA, such as the Toronto Sceptres and Montreal Victoire, have also embraced book clubs as a way to bond. Claire Dalton, a forward for the Toronto Sceptres, initiated a book club with goalie Raygan Kirk, drawing inspiration from their previous team experiences.
The Toronto Sceptres’ book club, engaging around 15 players during the regular season, discussed various books like “Gone Before Goodbye” and “The Heir Apparent.” In a similar fashion, the Toronto Tempo’s book club was kickstarted by guard Kia Nurse and teammate Nyara Sabally, fostering team chemistry for the new WNBA expansion team.
Kia Nurse highlighted the significance of reading as an escapade for athletes, offering a break from the pressures of competition. The impact of these book clubs extends beyond the teams, with the Toronto Sceptres engaging fans through social media and community events promoting literacy.
Collaborating with The Children’s Book Bank, the Toronto Sceptres organized “Sceptres Storytime,” where players read to children and participated in book discussions. This initiative aims to inspire young readers by showcasing athletes as reading role models, breaking stereotypes that limit children’s perceptions of reading.