Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird Named NBA 2K23 WNBA Edition Cover Athletes

Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird will be the cover athletes for the WNBA Edition of NBA 2K23, 2K announced Wednesday.

Pre-orders for the NBA 2K23 WNBA Edition, available exclusively at GameStop only in the U.S. and Canada, will launch on Thursday, July 7. NBA 2K23 is set to release worldwide on Sept. 9, 2022.

"It really is an incredible feeling to see your hard work memorialized on the cover of a game like NBA 2K23," Taurasi said in a press release. "There are so many kids that dream of pursuing a professional basketball career, and they can now ​​also dream of being on the NBA 2K cover, whether they want to play in the NBA or WNBA."

For the second year in a row, the NBA 2K series will have a special cover dedicated to the WNBA. Taurasi and Bird will grace the covers of the 23rd iteration of the series this fall with Michael Jordan appearing on the self-titled and Championship special editions, and Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker reportedly being on the standard versions.

"The response to NBA 2K’s first WNBA Edition last year was overwhelmingly positive and a testament to the W’s growing audience and prominence," said Alfie Brody, vice president of global marketing strategy for NBA 2K. "Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi have achieved greatness both individually and together, cementing their status as two of the best players in the WNBA’s history."

As part of the cover reveal, 2K also announced its partnership with Taurasi and Bird to further their career-long commitments to securing equal opportunities for women athletes, donating $100,000 to the national nonprofit Every Kid Sports.

The donation is said to be increasing access to youth basketball by covering the registration fees for over 550 girls from income-restricted families.

"It’s amazing to see myself on the cover of a video game that has such a cultural impact," Bird said. "And by partnering with NBA 2K and Every Kid Sports, Diana and I have the opportunity to open doors to hundreds of young girls in this country who want to express themselves on the court. I’m honored to be on the cover, and even more honored to use my legacy to provide these opportunities for the next generation."

Similar to last year's NBA 2K22 WNBA 25th Anniversary Edition, the NBA 2K23 WNBA Edition will include Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi’s WNBA jerseys as in-game bonus content.

One more cover athlete reveal is said to be coming Thursday, which should also drop details regarding pre-order bonuses and pricing for NBA 2K23 as well.