Sports fans were left completely stunned after the WNBA made one of the most unexpected announcements in league history during the Dallas Wings’ home opener. In a move nobody predicted, former U.S. President George W. Bush was officially introduced as the league’s first-ever Honorary Commissioner — and the internet immediately exploded with reactions.
Bush, 43rd President of the United States, walked onto the court wearing a custom “Dubya for Three” basketball jersey while fans inside the arena erupted into laughter and applause. Never one to shy away from a joke, the former president wasted no time delivering a line that quickly started circulating online.
“After the White House,” Bush joked to reporters, “I figured I’d finally take a job where the plays are actually bipartisan.”
Within minutes, clips of the moment were spreading across social media platforms, with many fans calling it one of the strangest yet oddly entertaining collaborations in sports history.
According to league officials, Bush’s appointment was inspired partly by his longtime public support for women’s athletics, but also by a viral moment back in 2023 when he attended a Dallas Wings game and enthusiastically showed off his free-throw form courtside. The video unexpectedly became a hit online, with fans turning the former president into an unlikely basketball meme.
Now, that viral moment has apparently evolved into an official role.
The WNBA confirmed that Bush’s responsibilities as Honorary Commissioner will include attending ceremonial tip-offs, promoting expanded media coverage for women’s sports, participating in community events, and even helping design a special “Freedom Ball” for the 2024 All-Star Game — a nod to his well-known hobby of painting.
Naturally, reactions poured in almost instantly from both the sports and political worlds.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama joined the conversation with a playful post online, writing:
“Who’s got next? (Seriously, this is awesome.)”
Meanwhile, WNBA star Brittney Griner welcomed Bush in her own hilarious way, joking:
“Hope you like dunking on Twitter trolls, sir.”
Even people who admitted they weren’t expecting the partnership still praised the move as an incredibly smart publicity decision. One ESPN analyst reportedly commented:
“He’ll bring more attention to the league in one week than most politicians do in a lifetime.”
Others online pointed out that the WNBA has spent years pushing for greater visibility, larger audiences, and stronger conversations around gender equity in professional sports. Bringing in a globally recognized public figure — especially one with a surprisingly relatable sense of humor — may be exactly the kind of unconventional attention-grabber the league wanted.
And Bush appeared fully committed to embracing the role.
During the press conference, he joked about the controversies of his political past while discussing new scoreboard technology.
“I promise no hanging chads on the scoreboard,” he laughed, causing players nearby to burst into laughter.
Things became even more entertaining when Bush joined Dallas Wings players for an impromptu three-point shooting contest after the announcement. Witnesses confirmed the former president managed to sink just one shot out of ten attempts, though fans inside the arena reportedly cheered louder for the miss celebrations than the basket itself.
Videos from the contest quickly spread online, with users joking that Bush had officially entered his “sports dad” era.
The unexpected appointment has also sparked wider conversations about the growing cultural influence of women’s basketball. The WNBA has seen a massive rise in popularity over recent years, attracting record-breaking viewership numbers, viral social media moments, and increased celebrity involvement.
Some fans believe Bush’s role — while largely ceremonial — represents another sign that women’s sports are now impossible to ignore on a mainstream level.
Others simply found the entire thing hilarious.
Memes flooded social media within hours, with people editing Bush into classic basketball posters, video game covers, and even mock NBA 2K ratings. One viral post joked that Bush’s official player stats should include “Leadership: 99” and “Three-Point Accuracy: Absolutely Not.”
Still, behind all the jokes and internet reactions, league executives appear serious about using the appointment to continue amplifying conversations around equality and investment in women’s sports.
As Bush left the court following the event, he delivered one final signature “Bushism” that instantly became the quote of the day.
“Fool me once… shame on you,” he said with a grin. “Fool me twice… well, let’s just say these ladies don’t get fooled at all.”
With the new WNBA season tipping off next week, one thing is already clear: nobody expected a presidential seal of approval to become one of the league’s biggest offseason headlines.
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