Women’s sports movies are both entertaining and relatable. Through the  stories of  characters or  teams, they help women's sports continue to blossom. 

International Women’s Sports Film Festival’s executive director Missy Capone, and Reggae Girlz director Trish Dalton know  just how important women’s sports movies are, and the impact that they’ve had on society over time. That’s true even for people who don’t consider themselves sports fans.

The Popularity and Importance of Women’s Sports Movies

“You don’t have to love sports in general,” Capone said. “You don’t have to understand all of the positions and all of the stats to be able to be there and just see the art that’s on display watching women play.” 

Women’s sports movies have been popular with viewers because, just like women’s sports, they’ve allowed them to enjoy sports stories without feeling left out. According to Dalton,  movies make “women's sports feel familiar and accessible,’’ which only adds to the feeling of inclusion.

Women’s sports movies showcase stories with deep meanings and storylines. 

“They weren't really about women's sports,” Dalton said. “They were about ambition, family, friendship, identity, and overcoming expectations. The sport was the vehicle.” 

They can be enjoyed by a wider audience, and viewers who don’t consider themselves sports fans can still appreciate the story, the characters, and the art behind the movie. Capone said that such movies portray stories through the lens of women and showcase the different challenges and responsibilities that we, as women, “never actually signed up for. They've just been assigned to us.’’ 

Over time, the popularity of these movies showcased the value of women’s sports, while bringing in a bigger audience and helping to create a demand for women’s sports to be shown on TV. It also showed young girls that there is a path for them to become professional athletes or work in the sports industry.

‘’People can't become fans of something they're not seeing,’’ Dalton said. 

“We haven't had that representation for women and non-binary athletes, and so we just decided we'd make it ourselves,’’ Capone said..  

At a time when women’s sports weren’t broadcast for all to see, this type of representation was highly needed. It paved the way for women’s sports movies released in the 1990s and 2000s to become worldwide sensations. 

“They weren't really about women's sports. They were about ambition, family, friendship, identity, and overcoming expectations. The sport was the vehicle.”

Reggae Girlz Director Trish Dalton

Must-watch movies 

Although many iconic movies could fit the list, here are three women’s sports movies from the 1990s and 2000s that should be on your watch list! These movies tell the stories of successful women and testify to the work women filmmakers did behind the scenes to bring them to life.

1. A League of Their Own

More than a baseball movie, A League of Their Own is an inspiring story about the players of the first professional women’s baseball league. With the Women's Pro Baseball League starting its inaugural season a few months ago, now is the perfect time to dive back into a story of pioneers and witness the evolution of women’s baseball in the United States.

2. Bend It Like Beckham

A must-see, Bend It Like Beckham not only portrays a story where gender is at the forefront, but also one that touches on themes like religion, tradition, and homophobia. The movie offers a look into the various obstacles some women have to overcome to follow their dreams.

3. Ice Princess

Ice Princess is an underdog story at its core, a classic teenage movie where academics, sports, rivalries, and friendships all collide. The movie shows how believing in yourself and never giving up can take you far.

Women’s Sports Movies Today

Although women’s sports are more accessible today than they ever were, continuing to produce women’s sports movies and documentaries is still crucial. These films elevate the voices of women and nonbinary athletes and testify to the sociohistorical context in which women’s sports evolve. 

Events such as the International Women’s Sports Film Festival in Portland, OR, grant women’s sports films a platform where these voices can be heard by an even greater audience.

Reggae Girlz, one of the films shown at this year's edition of the International Women’s Sports Film Festival, is a documentary on the Jamaican Women’s Soccer National Team and the hardship the players experienced leading to the 2023 Women’s World Cup. It's the perfect example of why producing women’s sports films is important. 

“With Reggae Girlz, we wanted people to become emotionally invested in these women, to know who they were, what they'd sacrificed, and what they were fighting for,” said Dalton, who directed the documentary. “Once you care about the people, you want to watch the game.”

She also said that being able to see the stories of women first-hand is how you build fans. “Ultimately, that's how women's sports get the audience, sponsorship, and broadcast attention they deserve,” Dalton said.

Reggae Girlz is an example of how women’s sports movies and documentaries can have a significant influence on women’s sports, women and nonbinary athletes, as well as younger generations. 

The representation, stories, accessibility, and voices they bring to screens contribute to the push for change and to the overall growth of women’s sports. So, take a moment to watch a women’s sports movie or documentary, let yourself be inspired, and keep pushing for more women’s sports movies to be produced!

Reggae Girlz can be watched exclusively on JOLT, with the documentary available for purchase on Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube Movies, TubiTV, and Xumo starting October 27th.