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20 Years of ‘Love & Basketball’ Gave Us a Blueprint for Female Success
The iconic film turned the Hollywood damsel in distress trope on its head
I didn’t play team basketball when I was growing up, but not because I didn’t try. I snuck out the house and secretly hooped because my mom, just like Monica’s mom in Love & Basketball, wasn’t too keen on me playing sports. Still, that didn’t stop me. When I didn’t make my high school girls’ basketball team in Chicago, I became one of the three female managers of that team. Because of that, I sort of knew the ball side of Gina Prince-Bythewood’s groundbreaking film Love & Basketball.
The film was released in the late spring 2000, just before the summer tentpoles. It starred Sanaa Lathan as Monica and Omar Epps as Quincy, or Q, two best friends — and later, lovers — who aspired to become pro basketball players. I am sure it was the only film to star a Black female athlete and be written and directed by a Black woman. Even now, that’s a feat. The film, cosigned by Spike Lee who served as a producer, cost only $8 million to make but earned $27 million worldwide. It was considered a Black success. It was also one of those films that defined a generation. But, for me, it felt more personal.
Love & Basketball is so much more than just a…
