Nine for IX

S01E08: The '99ers

The world of women's sports was kicked upside down on July 10, 1999. Before a sold-out crowd of more than 90,000 at the Rose Bowl and an estimated 40 million Americans watching on television, the women's soccer team reached a cultural and athletic pinnacle with its penalty-kick shootout victory against China to win the Women's World Cup. These players were more than the ponytailed poster girls celebrated by mainstream media. As told through the voice of a longtime team captain Julie Foudy, we get an inside look at the strong team ethic and rare "do for each other" mentality that propelled the squad to victory and turned it into a cultural touchstone. With unprecedented access, the film uses candid, behind-the-scenes footage shot by the players themselves during the tournament to present a unique portrait of the women who irrevocably changed the face of women's athletics. Reuniting key players from the 1999 squad and talking with current U.S. players, the film will examine how women's soccer -- and women's sports as a whole -- has changed since that epic day.

Overview

Nine for IX is the title for a series of documentary films airing on ESPN, celebrating the 40th anniversary of Title IX. The documentaries are being produced by ESPN Films in conjunction with espnW, and are intended to have the same creative, story-driven aspect that ESPN Films' other series, 30 for 30, has, with the series focusing on captivating stories of women in sports told through the lens of female filmmakers. The first film, Venus Vs., premiered on July 2, 2013.

Episodes

S01E01 Venus vs.

July 2, 2013 7.0
Venus vs. is the first episode of the 2013 documentary TV series Nine for IX.

S01E03 Let Them Wear Towels

July 16, 2013
Lisa Olson was just trying to do her job as a reporter for the Boston Herald in 1990 when a group of New England Patriot players sexually harassed her in their locker room by exposing...

S01E04 No Limits

July 23, 2013
As a teenager, Audrey Mestre suffered from scoliosis, but in those formative years, she discovered a passion for the ocean. It offered her a sense of freedom, and the burdens she faced on dry land...

S01E05 Swoopes

July 30, 2013 60 min
Sheryl Swoopes has famously been labeled the female Michael Jordan. Actually, she's far more interesting. On the court, she was nearly as dominant as Jordan, winning a national championship with Texas Tech, three Olympic gold...

S01E06 The Diplomat

August 6, 2013
At the height of the Cold War, Katarina Witt became one of East Germany's most famous athletes. Trained in an ice rink that gave rise to socialist heroes, Witt dominated her field by winning six...

S01E07 Runner

August 13, 2013
The expectations for American distance runner Mary Decker were sky high as she lined up to make her Olympic debut in the 3,000 meters at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. After all, Decker had displayed...

S01E08 The '99ers

August 20, 2013
The world of women's sports was kicked upside down on July 10, 1999. Before a sold-out crowd of more than 90,000 at the Rose Bowl and an estimated 40 million Americans watching on television, the...

S01E09 Branded

August 27, 2013
Sports is supposed to be the ultimate level playing field, but in the media and on Madison Avenue, sometimes looks matter more than accomplishments. This film explores the double standard placed on female athletes to...

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