Disney has announced details on a brand new documentary film from ESPN called “Give Me The Ball!”, which tells the story of sports icon and trailblazer Billie Jean King. The new film will be coming to ESPN and Disney+ later this month.
Directed by two-time Academy Award nominee Liz Garbus and first-time feature director Elizabeth Wolff, and produced by Ridley Scott Associates and Story Syndicate, in association with Elton John’s Rocket Sports, the 30 for 30 documentary Give Me The Ball! presented by Vyvgart chronicles King’s extraordinary life and career, both on and off the tennis court. Through unprecedented access, never-before-seen archival footage and candid interviews, the film explores how King repeatedly put her career, relationships and public standing on the line, taking on battles that extended far beyond the tennis court to become one of the most influential athletes and advocates of the modern era.
Following its premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, “Give Me The Ball!” has since screened at more than 30 film festivals worldwide and received multiple audience and jury awards. This month, the film will also receive an awards-qualifying, limited theatrical release.
The movie’s director and producer, Liz Garbus, said
The movie’s director and producer, Liz Garbus, said in a statement regarding the release:
“Billie Jean King is a selfless warrior whose life is a masterclass in advocacy and leadership, someone who put everything on the line for equality. That’s exactly the kind of model we need right now, and I’m thrilled to help introduce her to a new generation. This story has never felt more urgent.”
With the other director and producer, Elizabeth Wolff, adding:
“Billie Jean sits alongside Jackie Robinson and Muhammad Ali as the most influential athletes of the 20th century. Yet, unlike her male counterparts, most folks born after her heyday don’t know her name. We should all be asking ourselves why the historical memory is different with her. Spending so much time in Billie Jean’s story and with Billie herself has been life-altering and life-affirming because she is, put simply, contagious. You begin to ask yourself ‘What would Billie do?’ and when you follow her example, you feel braver, more connected to the world around you, and more aware of your responsibility in it. We learn from Billie that you can change the world by changing your world.”
Marsha Cooke, Vice President & Executive Producer, ESPN Originals and 30 for 30, added:
“Billie Jean King didn’t just change tennis – she changed the conversation around who gets to compete, lead and be seen. Give Me The Ball! offers an incredibly intimate look at the person behind the icon, capturing the determination, courage and humanity that have defined Billie Jean’s life and legacy. We’re thrilled to bring this deeply personal story to audiences and celebrate a pioneer whose impact continues to shape sports and society today.”
A pioneering champion who transformed women’s sports and became a powerful voice for equality, King’s story extends far beyond her remarkable accomplishments as an athlete. Give Me The Ball! traces her evolution from a young tennis player determined to compete at a high level to a global barrier-breaker who challenged the status quo and helped redefine what was possible in sports and in life.
Featuring rare and previously unseen footage and photographs spanning King’s life and career, the film includes newly transferred footage of women’s tennis across seven decades, as well as unearthed 1988 footage of King with a young Serena and Venus Williams. The documentary also revisits some of King’s most significant achievements, including her role in creating professional opportunities for women in tennis, her historic victory over Bobby Riggs in the 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” and her fight for equal pay and opportunity.
At the centre of the film is King
At the centre of the film is King herself, offering a candid perspective on the personal and professional journey behind her public legacy, including the choices and sacrifices that came with taking on some of the most consequential battles in sports and society. Those who knew and worked alongside her — including Serena Williams, Elton John and Chris Evert — provide additional insight into the challenges and determination that fueled her lifelong commitment to equality.
A production of Ridley Scott Associates and Story Syndicate, in association with Elton John’s Rocket Sports, “Give Me The Ball!” counts among its producers Dominic Crossley-Holland for Ridley Scott Associates, Liz Garbus, Elizabeth Wolff, Dan Cogan, Chris James for Story Syndicate and Gentry Kirby for ESPN.
“Give Me The Ball!” will premiere on ESPN, the ESPN App and Disney+ in the United States on Sunday, 22nd November 2026 and on Monday, 23rd November 2026 globally on Disney+ around the world.
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