Breaking Glass: The Pat Summitt Story Highlights Legendary Coach's Caring Nature

Documentary filmmakers Robin Roberts and Dawn Porter want viewers to understand the full impact of Summitt's leadership and mentorship.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 5:03pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An abstract close-up image of a basketball net, with the fibers and textures of the net captured in dramatic, high-contrast lighting to create a sense of glamour and energy.The documentary 'Breaking Glass: The Pat Summitt Story' sheds light on the legendary coach's deep personal investment in her players, both on and off the court.Knoxville Today

A new documentary, 'Breaking Glass: The Pat Summitt Story,' now streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+, explores the life and legacy of the legendary Tennessee Lady Vols basketball coach. The film features interviews with many of the players Summitt impacted, including WNBA star Candace Parker, and highlights Summitt's commitment to supporting and mentoring her athletes, particularly young Black women, at a time when that was less common in college sports.

Why it matters

Pat Summitt is widely regarded as one of the greatest college basketball coaches of all time, but the documentary aims to showcase a lesser-known aspect of her legacy - her deep personal investment in the lives and development of her players beyond just their athletic performance. The film sheds light on Summitt's inclusive approach and how she used her platform to create opportunities for marginalized groups in the sport.

The details

The documentary, directed by Dawn Porter and executive produced by Robin Roberts, follows Summitt's coaching career and the profound impact she had on the young women who played for her. It features interviews with former players like Candace Parker, who recall Summitt's insistence that her Lady Vols players sit in the front row of their classes, a practice Parker still follows today. The filmmakers say Summitt quietly recruited and welcomed many young Black women to the Tennessee program when that was still uncommon, without making a big public display of her inclusive approach.

  • The documentary 'Breaking Glass: The Pat Summitt Story' is now streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.

The players

Pat Summitt

The legendary former head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest college coaches of all time.

Candace Parker

A WNBA star who played for Summitt at the University of Tennessee and still carries lessons learned under Summitt's leadership.

Dawn Porter

The director of the documentary 'Breaking Glass: The Pat Summitt Story'.

Robin Roberts

The executive producer of the documentary 'Breaking Glass: The Pat Summitt Story'.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Something I think people don't talk about enough is Pat invited a number of Black women into the University of Tennessee to play for her when that wasn't that common. She didn't make a big deal of it. … She invited the best players.”

— Dawn Porter, Director

“I talked with Candace Parker, who played for Pat, and she said that they were required as Lady Vols to sit in the front row in the classroom. Candace says to this day, when she's somewhere, she sits in the front row. There were many life skills … that had nothing to do with basketball, but still stays with all these women … decades later.”

— Robin Roberts, Executive Producer

“I hope people will realize how much she truly cared, not just about the Tennessee Lady Vols, not just about women's basketball, but how much she truly, truly cared and how she saw you. When you were in front of Pat Summitt, you thought you were the only person on earth. She made you feel important. She made you feel seen and heard.”

— Robin Roberts, Executive Producer

“I hope people understand that she was a leader through and through, and she just treated everybody the same. … She was not a person who was only caring about the superstars. She cared about everybody.”

— Dawn Porter, Director

The takeaway

The documentary 'Breaking Glass: The Pat Summitt Story' provides a deeper understanding of the legendary Tennessee coach's legacy, highlighting her inclusive approach, commitment to mentoring her players, and genuine care for each individual that went beyond just their athletic performance. Summitt's story serves as an inspiring example of the transformative power of compassionate leadership in sports.