30 Great Sports Movies About Women and Girls

Armed with a 78-page plan, Richard Williams is determined to write his daughters Venus and Serena into history. Training on inner-city tennis courts, the family defies all of the prevailing expectations laid before them. It’s not just his story, it’s theirs. An Oscar-winning look at Black excellence and the making of two of our favorite athletes ever.

Maybe the first time Hollywood took women athletes seriously. Based on the story of those who, during World War II, became part of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. They reveled in a skill they might once have been ashamed of and made history in the process. And, yes, “There’s no crying in baseball!”

Monica and Quincy are childhood friends who both want to be pro basketball players. Quincy is a natural talent and born leader; Monica uber competitive but sometimes emotional on the court. In a soulful story of ambition, romance, and redefining what it means to win, will their separate paths toward achieving their dreams keep them apart?

The story of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields, from the mean streets of Flint, Michigan, who becomes the first woman in U.S. history to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing and learns–just like Jesse Owens, Muhammad Ali, and other Black sporting icons before her–that victory doesn’t guarantee respect. Enjoy as she challenges stereotypes and perseveres.

Jess Bhamra is a British Indian girl with dreams of playing professional football, but her Sikh parents have plans for her: a law degree and marriage. When Jules, a female striker, invites Jess to join the local women’s football team, her story becomes a feel-good culture-clash classic about friendship, identity, rebellion, overcoming barriers, and a killer free kick. We’re thrilled that a sequel is in the works.

The 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs became the most watched TV sports event of all time. Off-court and away from the media glare, King and Riggs each fought more personal and complex battles. Emma Stone shines as King, balancing activism, identity, determination, and a backhand with finesse and ferocity.

A jaded former jockey helps a young English girl prepare a wild but gifted racehorse for the Grand National Sweepstakes. Notable for being Elizabeth Taylor’s first acting role and among Mickey Rooney’s earliest dramatic ones, this early Hollywood tale celebrates youthful ambition, equine love, and the thrill of chasing the impossible.

Bliss Cavendar, an indie-rock loving misfit in Texas, finds a way of dealing with her beauty pageant mom and other small-town misery in a roller derby league in nearby Austin. She sports bruises, eyeliner, and the nickname “Babe Ruthless” in this coming-of-age tale about finding your tribe.

Sexagenarian marathon swimmer Diana Nyad tries again to become the first person to swim 110-miles nonstop from Cuba to Florida. Based on a true story and starring Annette Bening as Nyad and Jodie Foster as her coach, the film delves into obsession, endurance, and the power of female friendship.

Living in a Uganda slum is a daily struggle for 10-year-old Phiona and her family. When she meets a missionary who teaches children how to play chess, Phiona becomes enchanted with the game and soon becomes a top junior player internationally–along the way showing genius, resilience, and self-belief.

Diana is a troubled Brooklyn teenager who decides to channel her aggression by training to become a boxer, against the wishes of her father and potential trainers and competitors in the male-dominated sport. With fists speaking louder than words, she defies gender norms and exudes a powerful message: Strength isn’t just physical. It’s personal.

After losing her eyesight in a tragic accident, former teen ice-skating sensation Lexie makes a dramatic return to the sport with her boyfriend’s help. The original melodrama is generally considered better than the 2010 remake, with the earlier version’s performances, soundtrack, and overall feel deemed more timeless and resonant.

Steadfastly supported by her older sister and trainers, Gertrude “Trudy” Ederle overcomes adversity and a patriarchal society’s animosity to win a gold medal at the 1924 Olympics–and become the first woman to swim across the English Channel. The inspiring biopic chronicles Ederle’s determination, battles against sexism, and refusal to sink.

A true story about Mahavir Singh, a former amateur wrestler who coaches his daughters, Geeta Phogat and Babita Kumari, to become world-class athletes in the sport. Inspirational, emotional, and empowering, this movie became the highest grossing Indian film globally upon its release and blends themes of gender equality and family dynamics with realistic wrestling depictions.

Pat is a gifted athlete who holds her own in golf and tennis matches–until her fiancé distracts her. A sports promoter realizes Pat stops trying when the fiancé is around and works to keep them apart, especially after he develops feelings for her himself. An early rom-com serving vintage feminist vibes with Katharine Hepburn’s signature wit and grace.

The story of Mildred Burke, a once shy woman who becomes a champion professional wrestler at a time when all-girls wrestling was banned in most of America. With campy flair and emotional depth, this film body slams both self-doubt and adversity while celebrating changing minds, breaking barriers, and rewriting narratives.

When former gymnast and current rebellious teen Haley has a brush with the law, a judge sends her to an elite academy run by a legendary coach–and right back into the sport she ditched. There, Haley makes friends and enemies alike as she, despite rigid rules and toxic perfectionism, moves toward redemption. This film is a punk-rock rebellion in which glitter meets grit.

Rivalries, romance, and racing collide as street-smart Shania Andrews and middle-class Lisa Temple join their country’s 4x100 meter relay team as it aims to compete at the World Championships. This British drama is part sports flick, part girl gang empowerment–and is praised for its energetic performances, engaging story, and inspirational message.