With queer sports romances continuing to dominate screens and bookshelves, basketball could be the next frontier.
Courtside, a modern sports romantic comedy set in the world of professional women’s basketball, is now in development.
Women’s National Basketball Association stars Syd Colson, Theresa Plaisance and Gabby Williams are attached to the project, bringing real-life basketball talent to the film.
Set in the world of the WNBA, where there are many out players and lesbian couples, the movie will follow “an injury-plagued women’s hoops superstar whose championship ambitions are upended when she falls for her teammate.”
With elite athletes in close proximity, high-stakes games and fierce competitiveness, Courtside promises an adrenaline-fuelled sapphic rom-com.
A new wave of queer sports romance
The film arrives amid growing excitement around queer sports stories, including Cleat Cute, a sapphic soccer romance currently in development for television.
A new wave of LGBTQ+ sports romances has also followed the global success of Heated Rivalry, while earlier queer sports projects such as A League of Their Own helped build a passionate audience for stories centred on queer athletes.
Courtside is written by Abbott Elementary writer Brittani Nichols and directed by Suicide Kale filmmaker Carly Usdin.
“Lesbian tension, and comedy”
Nichols said the project brings together several of her biggest passions.
“It feels like I’ve been waiting my whole life for this kind of excitement to surround women’s basketball, and I’m excited to blend my love of sports, lesbian tension, and comedy into one project,” Nichols told Deadline.
Colson, an out lesbian player for the Indiana Fever, said she had never “said yes to an opportunity faster”.
“I respect Carly and Brittani’s sense of humour so much and being involved with this in any capacity sounded amazing!
“I’m elated to see a new generation of women’s sports films. I can already feel how transformative this movie will be in terms of representation on screen for minorities, queer people, and women’s basketball players and fans alike.”
Colson will be joined by fellow players Plaisance and Williams.
Plaisance last played for the Seattle Storm. She and Colson are also off-court best friends who starred together in The Syd + TP Show, a buddy comedy series that followed the pair on their quest to become the most famous basketball players in the world.
The series featured stunts, interviews, hijinks and what was described as a complete lack of shame.
Williams, who plays for the Golden State Valkyries, is said to be in a relationship with French basketball player Marine Johannès of the New York Liberty.
“The kind of story we want to be telling”
Run-A-Muck co-founder and Chief Creative Officer Ilene Chaiken said Courtside reflects the cultural momentum around women’s sports and queer storytelling.
“This is exactly the kind of story we want to be telling at Run-A-Muck,” Chaiken said.
“Women’s sports are driving culture in a way that feels undeniable, and there’s a real appetite for character-driven queer stories that reflect that world authentically.”
For fans of sports romance, queer comedy and high-pressure teammate tension, Courtside is shaping up to be one to watch.
