New Pat Summitt documentary is a very enjoyable watch, but incomplete

The cold stare she directed at her players with her steely blue eyes, especially those who didn’t play well. At the officials who dared to make a bad call. The fiery competitiveness.

And, most of all, a winning attitude. All of these traits describe the one and only Pat Summitt, the legendary Tennessee women’s basketball coach, who led the Lady Volunteers to eight national championships and set a standard in the sport long before anyone had heard of Geno Auriemma. Summitt, the Hall of Famer who died at the age of 64 in 2016 after a battle with early-onset Alzheimer's, is the subject of a new documentary directed by Dawn Porter (winner of the 2025 Emmy Award for Best Documentary for "The Sing Sing Chronicles"), and executive produced by “Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts.

More: Robin Roberts explains the making of new Hulu film on Pat Summitt “Breaking Glass: The Pat Summitt Story” features interviews with her closest confidants, including coaches, former players, her son, and ex-husband, and incorporates Summitt’s own voice from unheard audio from interviews with former Washington Post columnist Sally Jenkins. The film premieres on Wednesday, March 25, on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+, and will also air on Sunday, March 29, on ESPN2, and on Sunday, April 5, on ESPN. The title “Breaking Glass” is definitely fitting for Summitt, who did more than shatter ceilings; she also challenged stereotypes about women’s sports and their potential for success, all while staying true to herself and championing women.

Pat Summitt doc an enjoyable watch, but incomplete Like many documentaries about notable subjects, this one begins with a look at the early life of Summitt — born Patricia Susan Head. She went from working hard on a Tennessee dairy farm to the hardwood at UT Martin, then to Knoxville and the University of Tennessee, where she became a head coach at age 22. And, like many documentaries, especially given the magnitude and impact Summitt had on and off the court, this one feels incomplete, though it is an enjoyable watch, filled with laughs and heartbreak, especially in the last 30 minutes of the film.