Told from a woman’s perspective, the film shows the challenges and difficulties of “making it” as a female athlete.
Gina Prince-Bythewood is a filmmaker who has directed The Woman King (2022) and The Old Guard (2022). Earlier (in 200), she also directed a sports movie, Love & Basketball, starring Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps, a film that impacted sports, especially for women athletes.
It’s the story of Monica and Quincy, who grew up in the posh part of Los Angeles. While they both evolved into star athletes, the road Quincy follows (as a male athlete) differs from Monica’s experiences as a woman. From the start, Quincy is treated like the star he is, while Monica has to fight to be recognized for her talent.
That storyline from high school followed them to Southern Cal, where they both played as collegians. Again, the spotlight is on Quincy, as Monica had to work hard to get a scholarship and then fight for playing time.
Eventually, the two grow even closer, and a romance blossoms. The film doesn’t end there, though. The story continues as the two seek to advance their basketball careers in the NBA and WNBA.
For inspiration, Bythewood drew on personal experience as a high school basketball player and track and field team member. Later, she studied at UCLA Film School while running track for the Bruins.
Even though the film was released over two decades ago, I still recommend it to friends and colleagues. It’s relevant still. Moreover, the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress has deemed it culturally significant.
