They Came, They Saw, They Kicked Butt: 10 Books About Girls Who Play Sports

Gymnast Nadia Comaneci is most well known for receiving seven perfect 10 scores at the 1976 Olympic Games. This book focuses primarily on her younger years when she was known as the little girl who couldn’t sit still. Nadia took this boundless energy that had her climbing trees growing up in Romania to her unprecedented performance. This picture book gives young readers insight into her journey and serve as an inspiration to not let anyone tell them they cannot achieve their dreams.

As inspiring as A League of Their Own is even 28 years later, the All-American League was still a white women only organization. Female baseball players of color were still very much unwelcome on the baseball diamond. Mamie “Peanut” Johnson was one such player until 1953. That’s when she signed to pitch for the Negro Leagues Indianapolis Clowns and became the first female pitcher to play on a professional men’s team. She played for them for three years, earning an outstanding 33-8 record, and helped to break ground for female athletes everywhere.

This picture book follows track and field star Alice from her humble beginnings in rural Georgia to her triumph at London’s Wembley Stadium in the 1948 Summer Olympics. There she broke the color and gender barrier by coming the first female athlete to win an Olympic Gold Medal. She even got to shake hands with the King of England! This book is a perfect addition for any child’s library, to inspire them to keep on trying no matter what kind of physical or metaphorical hurdles are in their path.

Best friends Astrid and Nicole have always done everything together. So when Astrid signs up for roller derby summer camp, she assumes that Nicole will too. Instead, Nicole signs up for dance camp with a new friend, leaving Astrid alone. Through the bumps and bruises that go in hand with being a derby girl, Astrid begins to learn who she is without Nicole and discovers how resilient she can be.

Ibtihaj was used to being the only Muslim in her New Jersey school as well as the only one at fencing tournaments. Despite the discrimination she faced, she persevered and became the first Muslim American to woman to complete in a hijab and win a medal at the Olympics. This young reader’s version of the adult memoir is sure to delight and inspire young readers who may find themselves in similar situations.

This book is based on the true story of Effa Manely, who was co-owner and business manager of the Newark Eagles back when baseball was still segregated. Through hard work and perseverance, she helped the Eagles reach the pinnacle of their potential as a team.

Just as they were reaching their stride, the country called for baseball to become integrated, which essentially meant the end of the Negro Leagues. This could have been the end of what we know about Effa as well, but her importance wasn’t forgotten: she became the first and only woman inducted in to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

I’m adding this as an “honorable mention” since Effa didn’t play the sport professionally herself. She did play as a child and her place in the baseball history should be acknowledged.

When Peyton Rios receives an offer from her first choice college, senior year starts off an a high note. Then she uncovers her boyfriend’s dark secrets and, after confronting him, falls down a flight of stairs. This shatters her knees and endangers her pro soccer playing dreams.

She goes to stay with her uncle in a small Tennessee town to recover and ends up meeting Owen Law. Peyton is slow to trust this new sweet but mysterious boy as she is still recovering from her heartbreak, and she senses that Owen is also harboring a secret. When those secrets are exposed, both must decide if their love is worth the fight.

Gravity Delgado finds a family she never expected when she walks into Brooklyn boxing gym Cops ‘n Kids. She also finds a love and skill for boxing that could give her a shot at the Olympics, provided she can focus on the sport and not get distracted by two new love interests and other hurdles in her path. Readers will appreciate this inspiring story of a girl who aspires for greatness and more than the world thinks she deserves. 

This graphic novel series introduces us to Charlie, recent transfer to the Georgia O’Keeffe College of Arts and Subtle Dramatics. Charlie, who is a former sports star, struggles to find her place among these artists and is determined to leave her basketball life behind.

Then she becomes charmed by Liv, the team captain and her ragtag team of recruits. While she originally wanted to leave that world of cut-throat sports behind, she may discover the person she wants to be while running down the court.

Outer Banks Tennis Academy, located across the North Carolina coast, is one of the most prestigious training facilities for future tennis stars. The rivalries and tensions run high though since futures can either be forged or shattered here.

This first book in the Outer Banks Tennis Academy series introduces us to future tennis hopefuls Penny, Jasmine, and newcomer Indiana as they strive to make their marks in the world of tennis.