Nonfiction Hotlist: 'Panther Pat' documents the remarkable story of pro football's first female player

Pat Palinkas made history as the first woman to play professional football in the late 1960s. Director Ash Brandon discovered her story while reading about a football player named Wally Florence in a book in 2022. Brandon was shocked to learn about Palinkas and knew she had to tell her story. Nearly four years later, their film "Panther Pat" is now available on Yahoo.

The film follows Palinkas' journey as she and her husband Steve practiced daily to try out for a pro football team. When the Orlando Panthers offered a tryout, Steve brought Pat along. Despite facing ridicule, Pat became a natural on camera and made the team, shaking off nerves and etching her place in the record books. Pat's story paved the way for women in sports, including the NFL's current accomplishments.

The film was made possible by the Palinkas family and aims to ensure that Palinkas' groundbreaking achievement is never forgotten.