Gabby Williams, Theresa Plaisance, and Sydney Colson will all feature in Courtside
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY LORIE SHAULL, CC BY-SA 4.0 VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
It’s safe to say that LGBTQIA+ sports fans have been blessed this year when it comes to TV and film news. First, we had Crave’s Slo Pitch. Then, Kelley O’Hara’s new football film Ripe! And now we’ve received the news that we’re getting a new women’s basketball film, Courtside.
Jennifer Beals’ and Ilene Chaiken’s production company Run-A-Muck is at the helm of this new project, which will star WNBA players Gabby Williams, Theresa Plaisance, and Sydney Colson. Written by Brittani Nichols and directed by Carly Usdin, Courtside will follow an injury-plagued star who falls in love with her teammate. It’s safe to say that we’re firmly on the edge of our seats.
As reported by Deadline, Brittani said: “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.”
Alongside starring in this new film, Sydney will also serve as the film’s executive producer. Fans will remember that she previously worked with Carly on comedy series The Syd And TP Show, which featured Theresa.
Sydney added on Instagram: “If you like Love & Basketball and Bend It Like Beckham and Bring It On but you found yourself wondering, ‘could this maybe be a little bit gayer?’ We got great news for you. Because we had the same question, and the answer is ‘yeah, you can always make it gayer.’”
Women’s basketball is firmly getting its spotlight, with AppleTV+ also set to release its three-part docuseries The Dynasty: UConn Huskies, which follows the rise of the most dominant programme in college basketball history.
The L Word creator and Run-A-Muck also said, as reported by Deadline: “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.”
Love media made by and for LGBTQIA+ women and gender diverse people? Then you’ll love DIVA. We’ve been spotlighting the community for over 30 years. Here’s how you can get behind queer media and keep us going for another generation: linkin.bio/ig-divamagazine
Did you know that DIVA has now become a charity? Our magazine is published by the DIVA Charitable Trust. You can find out more about the organisation and how you can offer your support here: divacharitabletrust.com
