Life doesn’t always go according to plan. It’s how you deal with challenges that determines your success.

The new movie, The Heart of the Game, profiles the ups and downs faced by Seattle’s Roosevelt High School girls basketball team as they worked to become the top team in the state.

One of its biggest challenges came when star point guard Darnellia Russell became pregnant. After dropping out of school for a period of time, Russell returned to the classroom determined to graduate. She also wanted to be able to play basketball but was banned by the governing body that oversees Washington high school sports.

She took her battle to the courtroom and eventually, with her team standing behind her, returned to the hardwood as a fifth-year senior.

On Tuesday, June 21, the Sting hosted a special premiere of the The Heart of the Game in Charlotte. Season Ticket Holders were invited to Consolidated Theatres at Phillips Place where they were given the opportunity to meet Sting players LaToya Bond, Monique Currie, Tye’sha Fluker, Yelena Leuchanka, Janel McCarville and Ayana Walker before joining them to become some of the first people to see the film.

Together the players and season ticket holders watched as the story unfolded before them. They laughed as Roosevelt’s unorthodox Head Coach Bill Resler used zany ways to motivate his team. For several Sting players, Resler was the one of the highlights of the movie.

“I liked the coach,” remarked McCarville, “Basically anything he said was funny. He really went out on a limb to ease their tension before games. He was a funny guy.”

They cheered as Russell won her battle in the courts and was allowed to play, eventually leading her team to the Washington 4A State Championship.

“It was actually a good movie,” remarked Walker. “To see them go that far, win the championship and have her (Russell) accomplish what she wanted to was good.”

While the movie was entertaining, it also had a great message, as it showed that by using your strengths to work through adversity, great successes can be achieved.

“I think it was a good display of women’s strengths,” said Fluker.

“It was definitely good,” added McCarville. “It showed how women’s basketball can overcome adversity. Women can overcome so much if they just put their minds to it. Her story was obviously a great one. She showed a lot of pride and dignity.”