Sanaa Lathan, Gina Prince-Bythewood Set for Love & Basketball 25th Anniversary Conversation
Twenty-five years after it first hit screens and hearts, Love & Basketball is getting the celebration it deserves.
On Thursday, February 12, the legacy of the beloved film will be honored at the Baybourne in Beverly Hills with an intimate conversation centered on the impact, meaning, and cultural staying power of a story that reshaped how Black love, ambition, and athletics are seen on screen. The evening will bring together director Gina Prince-Bythewood, star Sanaa Lathan, who memorably portrayed Monica Wright, sports and culture voices Cari Champion and Jayne Kennedy, with Laura Coates serving as moderator.
Rather than a traditional anniversary toast, the night is designed as a reflection. A space to look back honestly at what the film meant then and why it still resonates now.
When Love & Basketball premiered in 2000, it quietly disrupted the sports romance genre. Monica Wright was not written to be palatable or convenient. She was driven, stubborn, gifted, and unwilling to dim her passion for the game in order to be loved. That alone made her revolutionary. For many viewers, Monica became a mirror, especially for Black women athletes who rarely saw themselves centered with such care and complexity.
Sanaa Lathan’s performance gave Monica depth and vulnerability without ever softening her ambition. Alongside her, Prince-Bythewood’s direction trusted the audience to sit with tension, heartbreak, and growth. Love was not a reward. It was a journey.
That is what this conversation aims to unpack. From the film’s creation and early reception to its generational impact today, the panel will explore how Love & Basketball helped redefine Black storytelling in Hollywood. It will also reflect on how the film opened doors for more nuanced portrayals of Black women, Black athletes, and Black relationships that exist beyond stereotypes.
With voices like Cari Champion and Jayne Kennedy adding perspective from sports media and cultural commentary, the discussion is expected to stretch beyond film and into how representation shapes real lives. Moderated by Laura Coates, the evening promises both insight and intimacy, grounding nostalgia in truth.



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