Brief
Artist behind @wnbaart gains fame after Sue Bird shout‑out
Meg, known online as Thee W Artíste, turned her six‑month‑old WNBA‑themed art account into a viral sensation following a July shout‑out from legend Sue Bird.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Meg, a 36‑year‑old health‑care professional, runs the Instagram and Threads account @wnbaart, where she posts whimsical cartoons of WNBA moments. The account, launched in May, now boasts roughly 110,000 followers, a surge that followed basketball legend Sue Bird’s mention of the account on her podcast in July.
What happened
Meg grew up watching the WNBA from its inaugural season in 1996 and became a fan when the Chicago Sky debuted in 2006. She began drawing cartoons ahead of the 2026 WNBA season, initially posting graphics about daily matchups. A post on June 17 featuring a drawing of Natasha Cloud’s “pride celly” attracted notable attention, prompting her to focus on humorous, fan‑driven moments.
What the reports add
Bustle notes that Meg’s follower count rose steadily after Sue Bird highlighted @wnbaart on her podcast, and that she felt “overwhelmed” by in‑person attention at the 2026 WNBA All‑Star Weekend, where fans approached her for autographs and photos. The outlet also records that Meg can produce a cartoon in as little as ten minutes, though some pieces take several hours, and that she receives game‑by‑game requests from fans via Threads and Instagram.
What was said
Meg told Bustle, “We had just signed that new CBA agreement. I was so excited for all the team mix‑ups… I just started drawing cartoons for fun at bedtime.” She added, “[My art] went in this really niche direction of just trying to find moments in the game that were silly or funny and brought joy to so many people.” Regarding the All‑Star Weekend, she said, “I was so unprepared and so overwhelmed by the amount of in‑person love that I got. I was approached constantly for autographs and pictures.”
How it came about
Meg’s lifelong love of basketball and art merged into @wnbaart as a side project before the 2026 season. Her early posts focused on match‑up graphics, but fan interaction steered her toward whimsical depictions of viral moments. The June 17 post about Natasha Cloud marked a turning point, and the July podcast shout‑out from Sue Bird amplified her visibility, leading to a rapid follower increase and a growing presence at WNBA events.
Key facts
- Meg, 36, works in health care by day and runs the @wnbaart Instagram and Threads account. (bustle.com)
- The @wnbaart account launched in May and has about 110,000 followers. (bustle.com)
- Sue Bird mentioned @wnbaart on her podcast in July, boosting Meg's follower growth. (bustle.com)
- Meg posted a drawing of Natasha Cloud’s “pride celly” on June 17, which increased engagement. (bustle.com)
- At the 2026 WNBA All‑Star Weekend, Meg was approached for autographs and photos by fans. (bustle.com)
Sources
- [1] bustle.com — originally reported as “Even Sue Bird Is A Fan Of This WNBA-Inspired Art Account”
