I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my review.

‘Denied’ is a research and interview-heavy book to discuss how women athletes’ identities are policed, on and off the court.

This story is one that everyone should read. It will start conversations that need to be had.
I enjoyed the insights from players and coaches.
I love the breakdown of the book. There is a glossary at the beginning to help define terms that will be used throughout the book—a well-thought-out introduction with descriptions for each of the five chapters.

I recommend this book to you if:
- You enjoy sports
- You are interested in intersectional feminism
- You want books that start a conversation

I am a huge fan and supporter of women’s sports mostly soccer but other sports as well. I felt this book was very eye opening for people that do not understand the struggle female athletes have to go through on the daily. I would very much recommend this book to friends family and people I don’t know. I think it’s an extremely important read not just for women but men also!

I really enjoyed this book and its thorough exploration of the conflicting pressures placed on female athletes. The author was embedded with a university women’s basketball team, and gives specific examples of the ways they were impacted by stereotypes about women who play sports. This is an important work and I would recommend it.

“Denied” gives a much-needed, thorough examination of the trials women athletes face at all levels. I was invested in this book and found the insights from the college basketball team, as well as their coaches and some former players, eye-opening. I did find the book a bit repetitive at times but as someone who had to write many research papers in college, I think I get it. Read this book, and hope we can make some changes.

I received this arc for free in exchange for an honest review.
Denied is a research and interview heavy look into the world of women's college basketball, specially one season at Midwest State University. Through interviews with both players and coaching staff, Manno explores the racism, misogyny, and homophobia rampant in sports.
Despite being so fact heavy, I never felt like I was being forced to read a research paper for school. Additionally, I never felt confused because of my lack of knowledge on basketball (I'm a hockey fan, personally). Instead, I found myself unable to put the book down. I found the book well structured and enjoyed each of the 5 chapters, ranging from topics of recruiting practices, policing of gender identity and presentation, and the unfair way Black women are treated in the sports world. Through the interviews, you were really able to get an inside look of the players and what they have to overcome to play basketball.
I would recommend this book to both sports fans, and those interested in intersectional feminism, especially the latter, as the book focuses on the way race, misogyny, and homophobia come together to impact players.
5 stars

I found this book to be a genuinely fascinating insight into the somewhat fraught world of gender, sexuality and race in an NCAA sports team.
This was of particular interest to me, as someone who's in a relationship with a Non-binary NCAA athlete, who's definitely experienced some weirdness from coaches in regard to their gender expression- including being made to change in a mop cupboard instead of the general changing rooms.
I really enjoyed the author's Perspective on the subject, and the array of secondary sources used was great. A real deep dive into the experiences of this team, and certainly a well researched and eye-opening one.

This is more academic than I expected and not for me.. I was hoping for a narrative non-fiction on the topic which sounds interesting. My one star rating is not due to quality (because I haven't read it) but just an effort to submit.