The project, which will air on TBS, takes stock of 50 years of progress since the historic civil rights law went into effect and led to a revolution in women’s sports.
A feature-length documentary exploring and celebrating the societal and cultural impact of Title IX as seen through the eyes of women’s basketball legend Candace Parker and produced by Turner Sports will premiere on TBS during the weekend of the men’s basketball Final Four between April 2-4, the company announced Thursday.
Parker, a two-time NCAA and WNBA champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and TNT NBA analyst, is producing the film in conjunction with her newly-launched production company, Baby Hair Productions, in association with Scout Productions. It will detail her iconic career from the University of Tennessee to the Los Angeles Sparks, her Olympic triumphs in Beijing and London, as well as her 2021 WNBA title with the Chicago Sky.
“I was fortunate enough to grow up in a time where Title IX afforded me great opportunities and impacted my life,” Parker said. “I am so excited to have the chance to tell this important story for the younger generation to show the significance Title IX has on culture and life beyond sports.”
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The currently untitled project will include interviews with major figures in sports, entertainment, politics, and business to discuss how the country has evolved in the 50 years since Title IX was enacted and what the future holds.
“Candace’s experiences matter to so many people – especially young women and girls – that look up to her, both for her great accomplishments on the court and as a leading voice in today’s basketball conversations,” said Tara August, Turner Sports’ senior vice president of talent relations and special projects. “We are proud to partner with her to tell the story of Title IX through her lens and to spotlight the importance of gender equity in sports.”
Scout Productions has produced award-winning hits like Netflix’s Queer Eye reboot, HBO Max’s Legendary and The Hype, and Academy Award-winning documentary Fog Of War. Scout’s David Collins, Michael Williams, Rob Eric, Amy Goodman Kass, and Joel Chiodi are producing the film.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 formally banned gender-based discrimination in education programs and activities that receives federal financial funding, including many college sports athletic programs. This enabled the booming growth of women’s college sports in the 1980s and 90s, especially basketball.
Parker’s film will detail this era of progress and controversy through her utterly unique lens.
