Season 1 Plot
Nine for IX Shorts is an extension of the feature-length, Emmy-nominated Nine for IX series, focused on capturing fascinating stories of women in sports told through the lens of female filmmakers.
30 for 30 - Nine for IX Season 1 aired on July 2nd, 2013.
Season 1 Episodes
1. Venus Vs.
Venus Williams is one of tennis' greatest athletes. DuVernay takes a look at a great Williams victory off the court: fighting for financial equality in the earnings given out to male champions versus female champions.
2. Pat XO
An in-depth look at the legendary University of Tennessee Lady Vols coach, Pat Summitt, from her exceptional career to her new life fighting early-onset Alzheimer's.
3. Let Them Wear Towels
An all-male locker room can be an intimidating environment for a female reporter. See how Betty Cuniberti, Lisa Olson, Melissa Ludtke, Claire Smith, Lesley Visser and Jane Gross fought to be accepted, regardless of gender, and create a harassment-free work environment.
4. No Limits
An exploration of the life of Audrey Mestre, a world-class freediver, and the events leading up to the dive that ultimately took her life.
5. Swoopes
Sheryl Swoopes has been labeled as the female Michael Jordan, rivaling his accomplishments with her own. As one of the first high-profile athletes to come out as being gay, she is not the everyday superstar.
6. The Diplomat
Katarina Witt was one of East Germany's most successful athletes. She endured constant surveillance by the Stasi and faced her greatest challenges after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
7. Runner
Mary Decker was one of the greatest runners of the 1970s and 80s. Decker set many running records but had a crushing experience in the 1984 Olympics.
8. The '99ers
A look at the United States women's national soccer team that won the World Cup in 1999 through exclusive footage from members of the team. The team helped inspire women athletes and change the way women's sports were viewed.
9. Branded
Branded examines the role sex and sex symbols play in the lives of female athletes, including tennis player Anna Kournikova, who is a pioneer for women athletes who understand that sometimes, sex sells.
10. Coach
A look at C. Vivian Stringer and how she handled pressure on the court as well as in the face of adversity regarding racial slurs towards her players.
11. Love & Payne
Through memories, family videos, personal photos, Tracey Stewart (Payne's widow) will give audiences a glimpse at the story of a once in a lifetime love, a shattering loss...and the legacy of a man who, in the final year of his life, achieved his greatest professional fulfillment and personal peace. Payne Stewart's voice will appear through archival materials, but ultimately Tracey will trace their story from that first fateful meeting, to Payne's transformative years, to his tragic death, and ultimately his legacy as a father, champion and husband. It will be a ...
12. Rowdy Ronda Rousey
On Feb. 23, 2013, Ronda Rousey made history by becoming the UFC's first female bantamweight champion. After locking up her signature arm bar on Liz Carmouche, Rousey became the No. 1 female fighter in the world, and she has been on the rise ever since. Where did this force of nature come from? And how high can Rousey go? The film takes an inside look at that fight and how Rousey's ascension is paving the way for female fighters.
13. Think Normal
Jason McElwain's 20 points in four minutes inspired sports fans around the world and fine-tuned the conversation surrounding people diagnosed with autism. But it was the perseverance and undeterred support of Jason's mother, Debbie, who coached her son and provided him with the strength and confidence to step onto his high school basketball court and hit six 3-pointers, and one 2-pointer in four minutes of play. Featuring heartfelt interviews from Jason, his mother Debbie and his brother Josh, "Think Normal" is a look at what a mother sacrificed for her sons.
14. Brittney Griner: Lifesize
From a celebrated hoops prodigy to a self-reliant professional basketball star, from Baylor to the WNBA and overseas, Brittney Griner had a wild ride last year. Her trip ended in China, where she drew oohs and aahs from fascinated crowds ... and learned a little something about herself along the way.
15. Uncharted Waters
It was a stunning announcement: Bill Koch, winner of the 1992 America's Cup, wanted to form an all female sailing team to try to win the 1995 Cup. The bold experiment ended in heartbreak for the Mighty Mary's crew, but the twists and turns of their story are worth remembering.
16. Play A Round With Me
In the 1980s, Jan Stephenson made a rousing run to the top of the LPGA, with a golf game to win championships and a sex appeal that sparked controversy. But no matter what people said or thought about Stephenson, one this is undeniable - she livened up the tour for nearly a decade with her colorful life.