Electronic Arts (EA) announced Thursday that it would be including WNBA teams and players in the upcoming release of "NBA Live 18." For the first time, gamers will be able to utilize players on the rosters of all 12 WNBA teams in WNBA Play Now Mode when the game is released on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 this fall.
When the news broke, players and teams took to social media to celebrate the WNBA's breakthrough into the video game industry.
San Antonio rookie Kelsey Plum visited with EA Sports in 2016 to help with the creation of the game, participating in a motion capture. On Thursday, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 WNBA draft shared her excitement for the game's release.
I'm so excited about this 😍😩😈😈 https://t.co/GrvNtJDDKK
— Kelsey Plum (@Kelseyplum10) August 3, 2017
The Mystics' Elena Delle Donne, the 2013 WNBA rookie of the year, showed her approval.
This is awesome! https://t.co/QhNVu9tyyR
— Elena Delle Donne (@De11eDonne) August 3, 2017
Dream teammates Elizabeth Williams and Brittney Sykes were hyped.
This is sick 🔥 https://t.co/eWZ2zFnkcr
— Elizabeth Williams (@E_Williams_1) August 3, 2017
It's OVERRRRRRRRR! I'm never moving from the tv ... except for practice and games 😂 https://t.co/Gt1lIQHoOM
— NWK FINEST (@Sykes_20) August 3, 2017
So were Storm teammates Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd.
Played video games growing up and now I'm gonna be in one!!! This is dope and I can't wait for #NBALive18 pic.twitter.com/jrtF2tWKFF
— Breanna Stewart (@bre_stewart30) August 3, 2017
#GameFace https://t.co/4odHgknbdp
— Jewell B Loyd (@jewellloyd) August 3, 2017
The WNBA also shared a behind-the-scenes look at EA's creation of Loyd's "game face."
We're in the game! #NBALive18 #WatchMeWork pic.twitter.com/m2rukmPVsJ
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 3, 2017
Kayla McBride, Plum's teammate, used her Instagram account to help spread the news.
The game also received support from the WNBA's male counterpart. Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner and Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard Evan Turner are happy that WNBA players now have the opportunity to live out the dream of being featured on a video game.
Ngl it's pretty dope that the @WNBA is featured in NBA Live, basketball at this level is a dream for EVERYONE! 👏🏾
— Myl3s Turn3r (@Original_Turner) August 3, 2017
Always wanted them to bring back the Women's game back on the video games like they did back on the old march madness games 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 https://t.co/wLlkkj43KJ
— Evan Turner (@thekidet) August 3, 2017
Some of the teams even began to join in on the fun. They're already fighting for your pick.
#EyesUpDC now you can put up a "W" in #NBALive18! Starting August 11th play with any #WNBA team...clearly it's gonna be us. 😉🔥 pic.twitter.com/0ueqw4HyRt
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) August 3, 2017
You won't need cheat codes when you play as the Mercury. pic.twitter.com/B2PhWuQ0ae
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) August 3, 2017
If the excitement the game's release has already generated is any indication, EASports might have a slam dunk with "NBA Live 18."