Give Me the Ball! is a 2026 American documentary film directed by Liz Garbus and Elizabeth Wolff. The film is an intimate portrait of tennis champion and social activist Billie Jean King, examining her impact on sports and culture through archival footage and candid interviews. The film is an ESPN Films 30 for 30 documentary produced by Ridley Scott Associates and Story Syndicate, in association with Elton John's Rocket Sports. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 26, 2026, and will air on ESPN on November 22, 2026.
Premise The documentary uses rare archival material and interviews with King and those closest to her to trace her impact on sports and culture. With a particular focus on 1973—a pivotal year when King was at the apex of both her tennis career and the women's movement—the film reveals the personal cost of her fight for equity and how she prioritized changing the world over her own wellbeing.
Production The documentary is produced by Garbus and Wolff's Story Syndicate, Ridley Scott Associates, and Rocket Sports, which was co-founded by Elton John. It is an ESPN Films 30 for 30 documentary, with a television premiere date to be announced.
Speaking about the project, Garbus stated: "We need heroes. We need people who have fought the hard fights and who have come through the other side, who have made sacrifice but feel enormous pride in that sacrifice."
Release Give Me the Ball! premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, which runs from January 22 to February 1, 2026. The festival listing states the film is available in person only. The film will release on ESPN at 8:30pm ET on November 22, 2026. The film will also receive a limited theatrical release.
See also Battle of the Sexes (2017 film)
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