George W Bush Named WNBA Honorary Commissioner in a Surprise Announcement
In a surprise announcement at the Dallas Wings’ home opener, former President George W.
Bush was named the WNBA’s first-ever Honorary Commissioner. The 43rd president, wearing a custom “Dubya for Three” jersey, joked to reporters,
After the White House, I figured I’d finally take a job where the plays are actually bipartisan.”
The league cited Bush’s longtime support for women’s sports and his viral 2023 appearance at a Wings game—where he enthusiastically demonstrated his free-throw form—as inspiration for the role.
The move sparked immediate reactions across the political and sports worlds. Former First Lady Michelle Obama tweeted,
“Who’s got next? (Seriously, this is awesome.),” while WNBA star Brittney Griner welcomed Bush with a cheeky “
Hope you like dunking on Twitter trolls, sir.” Even critics acknowledged the savvy PR move, with one ESPN analyst noting, “
He’ll bring more attention to the league in one week than most politicians do in a lifetime.”
Bush’s duties will include ceremonial tip-offs, advocating for expanded media coverage, and—in a nod to his painting hobby—designing a special
“Freedom Ball” for the 2024 All-Star Game.
“I promise no hanging chads on the scoreboard,” he quipped during the press conference
, before joining Wings players for an impromptu three-point contest (sources confirm he went 1-for-10).
The WNBA hopes Bush’s appointment will amplify its push for gender equity in sports.
As the former president left the court, he left fans with a signature Bushism: “Fool me once… shame on you
. Fool me twice… well, let’s just say these ladies don’t get fooled at all.”
The league’s season tips off next week—with a presidential seal of approval no one saw coming.
The announcement is presented as a meeting of two familiar public worlds: national politics and professional sport. Its tone depends heavily on the unexpected pairing. A former president entering a ceremonial basketball role gives the account a recognizable figure, while the setting of a home opener supplies a stage built around a different kind of audience. Much of the story’s energy comes from the contrast between those two environments.
The exchanges quoted in the account reinforce that lighter tone. Jokes about bipartisan plays, social media, and a presidential connection to the scoreboard turn the appearance into a sequence of memorable moments. The humor is part of how the story describes the event, rather than an account of a change to the rules of basketball. The ceremonial activities named also keep the emphasis on visibility and public attention.
The wider theme is the value of attention to a sports league. A high-profile appearance can create a point of entry for people who might not otherwise be following a particular team or season. The account links that attention with broader ambitions for media coverage and recognition of women’s sport. In its telling, the public figure’s familiarity becomes a way to draw more eyes toward the players and the competition.
That contrast between the guest and the game remains central. A ceremonial role is described through appearances, advocacy, and gestures associated with the league’s public image. The athletes still supply the sport around which the occasion is organized. The narrative’s appeal rests in bringing a familiar political personality into that setting and using the unlikely combination to create a story about recognition, publicity, and the audience for women’s basketball.