Give Me The Ball!, billed as an intimate portrait of sports icon and trailblazer Billie Jean King, will premiere on November 22 on ESPN.
Directed by two-time Academy Award nominee Liz Garbus and first-time feature director Elizabeth Wolff, and produced by Ridley Scott Associates and Story Syndicate, in association with Elton John’s Rocket Sports, the 30 for 30 documentary Give Me The Ball! chronicles King’s extraordinary life and career, both on and off the tennis court. Through unprecedented access, never-before-seen archival footage and candid interviews, the film explores how King repeatedly put her career, relationships and public standing on the line, taking on battles that extended far beyond the tennis court to become one of the most influential athletes and advocates of the modern era.
Premiering at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, Give Me The Ball! has since screened at more than 30 film festivals worldwide and received multiple audience and jury awards. The film will also receive an awards-qualifying theatrical release in November.
“Billie Jean King is a selfless warrior whose life is a masterclass in advocacy and leadership, someone who put everything on the line for equality. That’s exactly the kind of model we need right now, and I’m thrilled to help introduce her to a new generation. This story has never felt more urgent,” said director and producer Liz Garbus.
“Billie Jean sits alongside Jackie Robinson and Muhammad Ali as the most influential athletes of the 20th century yet, unlike her male counterparts, most folks born after her heyday don’t know her name. We should all be asking ourselves why the historical memory is different with her?” said director and producer Elizabeth Wolff. “Spending so much time in Billie Jean’s story and with Billie herself has been life-altering and life-affirming because she is, put simply, contagious. You begin to ask yourself “What would Billie do?” and when you follow her example, you feel braver, more connected to the world around you, and more aware of your responsibility in it. We learn from Billie that you can change the world by changing your world.”
“Billie Jean King didn’t just change tennis – she changed the conversation around who gets to compete, lead and be seen,” said Marsha Cooke, Vice President & Executive Producer, ESPN Originals and 30 for 30. “Give Me The Ball! offers an incredibly intimate look at the person behind the icon, capturing the determination, courage and humanity that have defined Billie Jean’s life and legacy. We’re thrilled to bring this deeply personal story to audiences and celebrate a pioneer whose impact continues to shape sports and society today.”
A production of Ridley Scott Associates and Story Syndicate, in association with Elton John’s Rocket Sports, Give Me The Ball!counts among its producers Dominic Crossley-Holland p.g.a for Ridley Scott Associates, Liz Garbus p.g.a, Elizabeth Wolff p.g.a, Dan Cogan p.g.a, Chris James, p.g.a for Story Syndicate, and Gentry Kirby for ESPN.
Jon Creamer
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