Women have to constantly prove themselves and Monica found herself in this position from the first time we saw her on screen. The role was identifiable with not only female athletes but with women in general. Sanaa Lathan gave a timeless performance in the movie as Monica Wright. Lathan went through rigorous training for four months, including workouts with coaches from the Sparks, and was more than believable in the movie. Sanaa Lathan never touched a basketball prior to this film but Prince-Bythewood knew she had to portray Monica. Seemingly it was, even down to the casting. She persevered and got to share this gift with the world. Gina walked a masterpiece through the doors only to have countless movie execs turn her away every time– but she knew she had to tell this story. Every studio turned it down until 40 Acres and a Mule stepped in and I’m glad they did. To think this was a film that almost never saw the light of day is wild. It’s surreal for her that the movie still resonates so deeply with audiences 20 years after the fact. Gina stated that she was overwhelmed by the maturation and the staying power of the film. During the interview, Gina revealed she watched just about every basketball movie ever made to draw inspiration for Love and Basketball. She said, “I never wanted anyone to look up on the screen and not see a female baller.” Spoken like a true hooper. She’s had a ball in her hands since she was 4 years old and she wanted her movie to represent basketball in the best way possible. Authenticity was extremely important to Gina. Many female athletes saw themselves in Sanaa Lathan’s awesome portrayal of Monica Wright. But make no mistake, it’s as relatable and genuine as it gets as far as sports movies go. It was the first basketball movie that was centered around a female ballplayer. The film was groundbreaking in many ways and was definitely a game-changer. This movie was revolutionary in many ways and influenced an entire generation of young, female hoopers. Gina Prince-Bythewood, the film’s director, was joined by Alfre Woodard, Kyla Pratt, Sanaa Lathan, Terilyn Shrapshire, and Candace Parker for a conversation that was mediated by Patty Jenkins where they touched on each and every aspect of the film from casting to its cultural impact.
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