Outsports and Q.Digital are proud to present “Ballin’ Out,” an online video series telling the stories of out LGBTQ athletes on the USA Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team. The series was produced by Scout Productions and directed by Michiel Thomas.
The series focuses on team’s journey in 2022 and 2023, as they aimed for a gold medal at the World Championships in Dubai. The city-state of Dubai is part of the United Arab Emirates, which outlaws homosexuality and same-sex relationships.
How will these out LGBTQ athletes and coaches navigate the laws of Dubai as they aim for a medal? Each of them has a different approach, some quieting who they are to avoid any issues.
The first episode of the series — “Culture Change” — explores the shifting culture on the USA Women’s Wheelchair Basketball team after a change in coaching staff, as well as meeting some of the women who will be featured in the series.
The second episode features the athletes and coaches discussing their disabilities.
Episode 3 focuses on the more personal, private lives of these LGBTQ women in wheelchair basketball.
Episode 4 explores Mental Health.
The final episode brings the series to a climax and celebrates Pride.
Scout Productions is an award-winning production company that has created projects appearing on Netflix, Peacock, Max, Disney+, Hulu, FX, Snap, Facebook, TruTV and many others.
Thomas, who directed the series and had other roles, has created various powerful documentaries, including the groundbreaking Game Face, which featured a trans and a gay athlete, as well as Gemmel & Tim, highlighting the lives of two Black men who were victims of a wealthy West Hollywood gay man.
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“Our goal was to create excitement about adaptive sports and to celebrate these women for who they are, not despite who they are,” Thomas said. “I’m super stoked to release this series in the wake of the 2024 Paralympics and hope this project will spark viewers to root for Team USA’s quest for gold in Paris!”
The “Ballin’ Out” series features several out LGBTQ athletes on the team, including 2024 Paralympians Courtney Ryan, Kaitlyn Eaton and Josie Aslakson. Also part of the series, as well as coaching the USA Women’s Wheelchair Basketball team at the Paris Paralympics, is Desiree Miller.
The team is currently in Paris for the upcoming Paralympics. The USA tips off against Germany on Friday, Aug. 30. The medal matches are Sunday, Sept,. 8. Here is the team’s full schedule for the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
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Stephanie Wheeler is part of the heart and soul of USA Women’s Wheelchair Basketball
Stephanie Wheeler is featured in Outsports’ ‘Ballin’ Out’ video series, which highlights LGBTQ women in USA Wheelchair Basketball.
By Cyd Zeigler | August 22, 2024
Out wheelchair basketball legend Stephanie Wheeler, as well as athlete Mandy Willmore, are also featured in the series.
Wheeler is known for winning Paralympic gold medals as both a player and a coach. She is currently the head coach of the University of Illinois wheelchair basketball team. She is in multiple Halls of Fame.
“I love this documentary series,” Wheeler said. “You get this mix of beautiful storytelling, and this super ultra competitive look at our sport. It’s hard to do that in 65 minutes, but [director] Michiel Thomas did a beautiful job that’s compelling and draws you in.”
The series is divided into five episodes, each running about 10 to 12 minutes.
You can find the full “Ballin’ Out” series on our YouTube playlist.
