TIFF Lightbox Cinema 2
Liz Garbus, Elizabeth Wolff
United States
Toronto Premiere
2026
1h 42m
English
Billie Jean King is a global icon whose impact on tennis and equality resonates around the world. But the personal turmoil behind this transformational figure has, in many ways, remained hidden from view. Give Me the Ball!, shines an overdue spotlight on the sacrifices King was forced to make behind the scenes.
From struggling to escape an unhappy marriage and hiding her sexual orientation, to facing an eating disorder and staring down misogyny at every turn, her march to triumph was a long and often lonely one. The film reveals King as the relentless fighter she was compelled to become, taking on high-profile battles to professionalize her sport and demand equal treatment for women. Through a trove of rarely-seen archival material and powerfully honest interviews with King herself, this film explores the depths of agony she endured so that others might follow on a less painful path. It is the story of selflessness, struggle, and triumph that celebrates a figure who is widely admired but never properly understood—until now.
TIFF Lightbox Cinema 2