Melanie Page and Kellie R. Griffin are collaborating on a new high school basketball drama series titled On the Line, Variety has learned exclusively. The series, backed by Rob Friedman’s Ascendant Entertainment, will follow the lives of female high school basketball players, exploring the pressures they face both on and off the court.
Page, once a rising star in Maryland with dreams of joining the WNBA, shifted her focus to filmmaking after injuries ended her basketball career. She is co-developing On the Line alongside Griffin, who will serve as the showrunner. Griffin, known for her work on series like Reed Between the Lines and Fuller House, will guide the project, which aims to capture both the intense on-court action and the emotional struggles these athletes face.
“I needed this story when I was younger, as I was going through the ranks as a basketball player,” Page said. “This series captures the dramatic, exciting world of girls basketball, where the stakes, both on and off the court, can make or break you.”
The series arrives as interest in women’s basketball continues to surge, with a growing audience at both the professional and high school levels. Ascendant’s vice president of development, Alison Lani Genest, is overseeing the project for the company.
“As a basketball dad, I know this is an arena full of captivating stories,” said Rob Friedman, emphasizing the show’s focus on the players’ personal challenges rather than the coaches.
Griffin, who has also worked in children’s animation and earned a Humanitas Prize nomination, expressed her excitement to bring the series to life. “In addition to shedding light on female ballers, this series will dive deep into those awkward yet growth-filled high school years,” she said.
With a focus on both personal drama and the high-stakes world of competitive sports, On the Line promises to offer a fresh perspective on the lives of young female athletes.