10 Women's Basketball Movies to Fuel Your March Madness Fandom

For basketball fans, there’s no better month than March. Not only is there basketball nearly every day, but the March Madness tournament means heroes will rise and new records will get written. Right now, we’re in that seemingly endless stretch between the Elite 8 games and Final Four weekend, where we’ll crown a new championship team. In women’s basketball, that honor will go to either UConn, UCLA, the winner of Texas / Michigan, or the winner of South Carolina / TCU. 

Regardless of who you’re cheering for (go UConn!), you probably need something to fill the time between when games end tonight and Friday. I compiled a list of women’s basketball movies and documentaries so that every type of fan can find their new favorite watch. 

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If you’re watching basketball for the drama… you’ll love The Pistol Shrimps, a documentary following the silly trajectory of Aubrey Plaza’s rec basketball team. It turns out celebrities truly are just like us. A group of them started a rec basketball team, and it became a documentary for the rest of us to enjoy. It’s hilarious, lighthearted, and exactly what you would expect from a team that has Plaza, Stephanie Allynne, and Molly Hawkey.

If you love the history of the game and want to learn more… fund the currently untitled EJ Lee documentary! I was fortunate enough to see some of the early footage and can’t wait for the full documentary to be released. EJ Lee is a Korean woman who was one of the best college basketball players of all time. She was often overlooked in her life, but now at 60 she has the opportunity to become a head coach for the first time. It’s so crucial that we recognize the players who laid the groundwork for women’s basketball to become what it is today, and EJ is certainly one of those women.

If you love love… you need to watch Love & Basketball. Let’s be honest, everyone reading this list has probably seen this movie at least once before, but it wouldn’t be a list of basketball movies without it. This absolutely iconic romantic drama weaves the interconnected stories of childhood best friends Monica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps) as they grow up, become professional basketball players, and find themselves in love.

If you need workout inspiration… find it in the girls from Class C: The Only Game in Town. I first watched this movie when I was nine and it’s sat with me ever since. The documentary follows basketball players from across the state of Montana who are all competing for the state basketball title. The effort they go through just to practice the sport they love will force you to stop complaining about waking up to run.

If you’re a new fan (and want to keep it that way)… catch up with your favorites with Full Court Press, the documentary following Caitlin Clark, Kiki Rice, and Kamilla Cardoso during their college seasons. Season 2, which I admittedly haven’t watched yet, finds a new group of players to watch: Kiki Iriafen, Hannah Hidalgo, and Flau’jae Johnson.

If you were following along with the CBA negotiations… get some background with Power of the Dream, a documentary that went into the Covid bubble with the WNBA players and gave all of us at home insight into the bargaining power of the WNBPA (the player’s association). The WNBA is so important and Power of the Dream is a testament to the activism, passion, and care of the mostly Black women who play in this league.

If your favorite part of game day is Holly Rowe’s inspirational stories… you need to watch Double Teamed!, a Disney Channel original movie about twins that unexpectedly become basketball stars. It’s probably the first basketball movie I ever watched and it’s one that I can honestly recommend to this day. The movie is based on the true stories of Heather and Heidi Burge, so bonus points for learning about two relatively obscure WNBA athletes!

If you’re sick of asking bartenders to put on the women’s game… turn on Annie O, a movie about a girl who joins the boy’s basketball team because there isn’t a team for girls. The 15-year-old makes the varsity team and is forced to contend with the sexism of her teammates and the other people in her life. Look, sometimes girls are just better than boys and we have to accept that!

If you’re curious about recent history… watch Sue Bird: In the Clutch. The documentary tells the story of Bird, arguably the best point guard of all time. As a UConn player and a member of the contingent of players who won countless gold medals but still were forced to play overseas for a paycheck, Bird has important stories to tell. Her late-in-life public coming out and relationship with Megan Rapinoe adds depth to both her personal story and her activism.

If you’re always hoping for an upset… you’re going to love The Mighty Macs, an inspirational sports drama about a coach at a tiny Catholic college that decides she’s going to win a national championship. Despite barely even having a place to practice, Coach Cathy Rush believes in her team and their abilities.