WNBA players and all of the league’s 12 teams will be included in NBA 2K for the very first time in its next iteration, NBA 2K20.
The publishers of the game, 2K Sports, made the announcement on Thursday, along with a trailer that shows Breanna Stewart, a center for the Seattle Storm and Candace Parker, a forward for the Los Angeles Sparks.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the move will increase the overall brand of the league by far and allow people to become even more familiar with the league’s 140-plus players. Because in 2018 alone NBA 2K19 sold over nine million copies, according to a report.
“We are excited to have WNBA players as part of this top selling video game, helping to bring more exposure to these elite players, expanding our fan base and providing an immersive gaming experience featuring women role model athletes,” said Engelbert.
In a statement, Parker said she was amazed at how the game captures the true style and play of the WNBA, and she’s sure everyone is going to be highly impressed.
“Just like my counterparts in the NBA, I grew up playing NBA 2K,” she stated. “After getting myself scanned and integrated into NBA 2K20 earlier this summer, I was amazed at how 2K is able to replicate women’s basketball at such a realistic level.”
“You can tell they are taking the time to capture the essence of the WNBA and have created an immersive experience that all fans of basketball will love,” she added.
News of WNBA players being included in NBA 2K comes after it was announced that CBS finalized a “multi-year” agreement with the all-female hoops league to air 40 games in prime time and on weekends.
NBA 2K20 will be released on Sept. 6, and the WNBA is currently in its 23rd season, which began on May 24.
