Welcome to the first post of the Sapphic Book Bingo 2026! I hope you had a good start into the new year and are ready for the first category of our new reading challenge—sapphic sports romances!
Right now, Heated Rivalry, the show based on Rachel Reid’s gay hockey romance, is everywhere, while sapphic sports romances aren’t talked about as often. But there are plenty of sapphic sports romances that bring the same competitive fire, emotional payoff, and rivals-to-lovers tension to the court, the rink, the track, or anywhere else winning matters.
That’s why we’re opening this year’s Sapphic Book Bingo with sapphic sports romances. For this square of your bingo card, read a sapphic romance in which at least one main character is an athlete, coach, or otherwise involved in the world of sports.
It can be any sport—team or individual—and set at any level, whether professional, collegiate, or amateur.
Check out the rules & download your Sapphic Book Bingo card
If you haven’t done so already, check out the rules of the Sapphic Book Bingo and download your bingo card. Then come back here to take a look at my suggestions for the first square below.
15 sapphic sports romances
Below, you’ll find 15 recommended sapphic sports romances. We’ve got sapphic hockey romances, soccer romances, basketball romances, and tennis romances, but some of the books are also set in the world of competitive swimming, cycling, rowing, running, karate, and dragon-boat-racing.
Love and Sportsball by Meka James
In this steamy and sweet sapphic romance, an uptight athletic trainer has one taboo night with a hot basketball player, but are they ready to play for what they really want?
Hard work has Khadijah Upton starting her dream job as an athletic trainer for the Atlanta Cannons. Then an evening of celebratory letting loose turns into a one-night stand with a beautiful stranger. It’s a reckless, wildly sexy encounter that Khadijah intends to forget…until her first day on the job lands her face-to-face with basketball star Shae Harris again.
Shae is a major player in every sense of the word, and Khadijah doesn’t plan to be the latest in a long line of “Harris Honeys.” Personal and professional just don’t mix. But Shae, who’s all about living life to the fullest, keeps tempting Khadijah to blur the boundaries. And the more Shae reveals about herself, the harder it is for Khadijah to resist her.
In the bedroom, their tension sizzles. On the court, it’s a liability. But unless Khadijah’s willing to really let Shae in, it won’t be just the team championship on the line, but a body-and-soul connection that rewrites all the rules.
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Like a Power Play by Elle Sprinkle
A sapphic college hockey rom-com about a team captain who butts heads with her new student coach, until she begins to fall for her.
Peyton Clarke has everything to prove. As the starting center for Greenrock University’s women’s hockey team, she’s determined to earn her place—no handouts, no shortcuts. Being the daughter of a retired NHL star, Peyton is desperate to show she’s more than just a product of her father’s fame. But when her relentless drive starts to blur the line between dedication and recklessness, she risks everything, including her future.
Darcy Cole never thought she’d return to hockey. Once a rising star at Minnesota State, her dreams were shattered when rheumatoid arthritis forced her to quit the sport she loved. Now, thanks to her meddling head coach mother, she’s stuck as a student assistant coach, a role she never asked for. Darcy has sworn off the ice, keeping her past as a player a secret. But when Peyton Clarke’s reckless playing style clashes with her cautious approach, something sparks—and then explodes.
To Darcy, Peyton is a reminder of everything she had to give up. To Peyton, Darcy is just the coach’s daughter who has no business telling her how to play. But Darcy is no stranger to hockey, and when their worlds collide, they both start to realize that maybe they have more in common than they think—both on and off the ice.
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Play You For It by Samantha Saldivar
In this sizzling sapphic romance, sparks fly between a sports journalist and her latest source—the first woman to be named head coach of a Division 1 men’s basketball team—but are they willing to risk their careers for a shot at love?
When Jordan D’Amato becomes the first woman named head coach of a top-level men’s college basketball team, journalist Caroline Beck is determined to get the story. After years of scraping her way into the world of sports reporting, Beck knows that snagging the first one-on-one interview with the elusive head coach could be her big break. But Jordan is wary of the media and the attention her historic new appointment attracts, especially as her boss makes it clear that it’s a temporary assignment—and if she doesn’t lead the team to victory, it won’t become permanent.
Beck’s persistence, however, charms Jordan, and she agrees to sit down for an interview. The two women have undeniable chemistry—but journalists definitely can’t fall for sources, and Jordan certainly can’t fully trust the ambitious reporter who has every reason to use her team secrets for the next big scoop. Though they both know it will ruin their reputations and likely also cost them their jobs if anyone finds out they are romantically involved, they can’t seem to stay away from each other.
With the national tournament in sight and both of their careers on the line, they must decide whether to take the shot on their budding love story—or walk away from the risky game they’ve been playing for good.
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Karateka by Allie Mac
Karateka is a journey…a journey of discovery and growth with that ever important romantic opportunity.
After a simple mugging self-confessed introvert Lesley Graham decides to do something to feel less vulnerable. After an online search she chances upon a women’s only karate dojo and sets about taking on new challenges that aren’t only physical. What Lesley discovers at the dojo is way more than just her own inner strength as she begins to find friendships and something even more surprising.
Meet Jay, the intriguing, and very sexy, aspiring blackbelt, Sensei’s Kath, Ash and Kate and others who help Lesley on her journey and guide her to becoming a student of karate. Follow their lives and the budding romance that ensues along the way. Will Lesley trust her heart and soul with these new friends or shy away from the possibility altogether?
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Dragon Boats & Doctor’s Notes by Hudson Lin
When workaholic obstetrician Julie decides to join a dragon boat team, she never expected to be so captivated by enigmatic team captain Rae. Dragon boat was supposed to help change up her routine, not blow her entire life out of the water, but now Rae is making her question every decision she’s ever made.
Rae has always been a natural caretaker, and seeing Julie’s all work-no play approach to life brings out all of their protective tendencies. The unending shifts and emotional toil of working at a busy Toronto hospital isn’t sustainable, but no matter how many times Rae points that out, Julie doesn’t seem willing to change.
As they train for the biggest regatta of the year, Rae and Julie must decide whether their budding love is worth fighting for, or if they’ll let Julie’s dedication to her job drive them apart.
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Out of Step, into You by Ciera Burch
You can’t outrun love.
Taylor and Marianna were each other’s whole world – best friends, running partners, practically sisters – until Marianna moved away and Taylor promptly ghosted her. When the former best friends turned rivals end up on the same cross-country team three years later, everything is a competition… and a reminder of old feelings, as well as blossoming new ones.
Marianna runs because she’s angry.The oldest child of a single mother, she knows all about responsibility – for her siblings, at her part-time job. She just has to stay focused and be faster than the past nipping at her heels if she wants to secure a new, brighter future. With or without Taylor.
Taylor runs to prove herself. The only child of a Divison 1 athlete, she’s no stranger to high expectations. With enough effort, she knows she can immortalize herself with a state record and make her parents proud. Then, she can discover her own passion. She definitely doesn’t have time to untangle her feelings towards Mari.
Can this pair figure out a way to work together before their past catches up with them?
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The Princess Match by Clare Lydon
Princess Victoria has perfected the royal playbook: calculated smile, convenient boyfriend, impeccable press. But behind the tiara ticks a heart that’s tired of playing by the rules.
Enter Ashleigh Woods: England’s football captain, media darling, and living proof that authenticity scores every time. When Victoria pins an MBE on Ash’s lapel, the instant chemistry jolts both their worlds.
Stolen glances become secret meetings. Private texts become tabloid gold. And suddenly, Victoria’s tearing up her royal rulebook for a woman who makes her feel like more than her title. Ash has faced down penalty shootouts in European Cup finals, but winning Victoria’s heart? That’s the match of her life.
When their romance hits the headlines, it’s game on: bow to tradition, or fight for a love that could change history. Victoria’s got a crown to inherit. Ash has a legacy to defend. Neither planned to start a revolution, but when destiny meets desire, sometimes you have to risk it all to win.
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Hoops & Heartstrings by Eliza Lentzski
When a devastating injury threatens Lex Bennet’s dream of playing in the women’s professional basketball league, her world is turned upside down. Despite the setback, Lex is unexpectedly drafted by the new expansion team in Boston. Her jubilation is short-lived, however, when she finds herself on the same roster as Eva Montgomery, her college rival and the woman responsible for her injury.
Once adversaries on the court, Lex and Eva must navigate their new dynamic as teammates. As they confront their past and strive to find common ground, unresolved emotions and an undeniable attraction simmer between them, becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
For Eva, the pressure of professional sports is compounded by her struggle with coming out. Her evolving relationship with Lex—from fierce adversaries to something more complicated—adds layers of tension and uncertainty.
Can they overcome their past and build a future together? With the scrutiny of fame threatening to expose their relationship, will Eva find the courage to embrace a future with Lex? And will Lex’s support be enough to guide them toward happiness?
Old rivals, new teammates—will their unresolved past lead to love or disaster?
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Match to Love by Johana Gavez
World-renowned tennis player Daniela Martínez has everything she could wish for, except love. When romance knocks on her door, she will have to find a balance between her athletic ambitions and her desire for a relationship or risk sacrificing one for the other.
Law student Ari Núñez is struggling with managing the expectations of her family and dedicating her life to a profession she dislikes more every day. Her relationship with Daniela, full of international travel and vacations, is the perfect escape, even if it feels too good to be true.
Follow their journey from a chance online meeting to power couple taking on the world together.
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Changing Gears by L A Wright
When Jen collides with Abi, a magnetic Scottish travel writer, on a serene cycling expedition through France, sparks fly and temperatures rise. But their flirtatious two weeks together challenges everything Jen thought she knew about herself, her beliefs, and her future. Their sizzling chemistry not only makes her question her conservative upbringing but also ignites a fire of self-exploration she thought she had extinguished years before.
As Jen grapples with returning to her old life in Sydney, she finds herself entangled in a heated conflict when a student faces cruel, homophobic bullying. Fuelled by her newfound courage, she takes a stand against injustice, risking her job and confronting her deepest fears to protect her student.
Just when the chaos reaches its peak, Abi reappears, forcing Jen to confront her innermost desires and make a heart-wrenching decision. Will she embrace love and acceptance, defying her family and risking it all for a chance at happiness? With the stakes higher than ever, Jen must summon the courage to be true to herself, no matter the consequences.
Packed with longing, resilience, and the power of love, Changing Gears is a captivating contemporary love story. Join Jen on this emotional rollercoaster as she navigates the storms of her heart and discovers the true meaning of bravery in the face of adversity. Don’t miss this contemporary tale where love challenges boundaries and drives one woman’s journey to authenticity.
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Onside Play by Liz Rain
Knockabout Australian Keeley McGee is living her childhood dream of playing soccer at the World Cup. The only thing that could kill her focus is coming up against the cool and dispassionate US team’s star striker. Beautiful, brilliant Christine Delacourt was the college girlfriend who dumped Keeley out of the blue years before. What will it be like reuniting under the stadium lights, especially since they know the other’s game—and each other—so intimately?
Despite a strict “no distractions” rule from her coach, Keeley finds herself drawn to Christine in a way that feels almost dangerous. Will Keeley be able to rekindle what she once shared with her now on-field enemy with the eyes of the world on them? Dare she even try?
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Underwater Vibes by Mickey Brent
How to survive that pivotal moment when admiration turns to attraction?
Hélène Dupont, a scientific translator in Brussels, Belgium, cherishes two things: flowers and her cat. She writes bad poetry to help her survive her painful existence with her husband, until she is forced to undergo a radical lifestyle change. Sylvie Routard, a young Greek photographer, enters Hélène’s world as her new private swim coach. During their daily lessons, Hélène’s admiration toward Sylvie turns to attraction. As unsettling feelings hijack Hélène’s mind and body, daydreams featuring Sylvie enter her world—even her poems. While the two athletes increasingly feel underwater vibes in the pool, Hélène questions her relationship at home, and everything else in life.
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Something in the Water by MJ Duncan
Professor Kate Walker is a tenured, world-renowned engineer. She has a job she loves, a daughter she adores, and friends who’ve been with her through thick and thin. It’s a fulfilling life that doesn’t really need anything—or anyone—else. Especially not a charming, downright amazing woman who happens to be twenty years her junior.
Carter Burke has lived a storied life and has the Olympic medals to prove it. She’s got her dream job coaching a collegiate women’s lightweight rowing team in her beloved Boston, and is happily married to the sport she’s dedicated her life to. She’s happy with her life and not really looking for more, but all that changes when a blonde professor with hypnotizing sea glass green eyes waltzes into her boathouse.
The Charles River has played host to countless scenes of overwhelming joy and crushing heartbreak over the years—but never quite on a scale like this. Because when hearts are involved, the stakes are infinitely higher. Carter is hooked from the moment she first lays eyes on Kate, and their chemistry is undeniable, but is that chemistry enough to help Kate push past her reservations and into Carter’s arms?
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The Rookie by S R Silcox
Lindsay McAllister thought she’d left soccer behind for good. But when her business collapses, and an old friend calls in a favour, she’s pulled back to the sidelines, and straight into the orbit of Meg, the team’s brilliant and relentlessly charming Operations Manager.
With a young goalkeeper in need of her guidance and an old wound threatening to reopen, Lindsay must decide if she can risk her heart again.
For the game, and for the woman she never saw coming.
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Pyramid Stunt by Alex La Bruyere
On the first day at my new high school, I’m targeted by the queen bee and her boyfriend. They’re a head cheerleader and quarterback stereotypical power couple and beloved by everyone. After two years I’m pretty used to spending my days fighting off their attacks. But then my mother marries the quarterback’s father and I have a new stepbrother. Suddenly he’s looking at me differently, and despite calling me “little sister,” our relationship is anything but familial. As for the queen bee, I’m finding myself locked in bathrooms and closets with her and despite her looking at me like the freak she’s named me as, her tongue is down my throat. I had gotten used to their bullying, but the new form of their attentions has me grasping for control and wondering how to survive in this new reality. Even worse? Neither of them knows the other has taken a new interest in me.
Pyramid Stunt is an FFM bully dark comedy romance with bi and kink awakenings and a why choose HEA.
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Racing Hearts by Sydney Lear
Jordan Marsh seems to have it all: fame, success as a race car driver, and women vying for her attention. But beneath the glamour is a loneliness she can’t shake, a secret ache she’s learned to ignore, until a chance encounter throws her carefully crafted life into chaos.
Quincy Fitzgerald has spent years building walls around her heart, determined to stay in control after a devastating heartbreak. But when the promotion she’s been counting on falls through, her steady life crumbles. The last thing she needs is a high-profile romance that could shatter her fragile sense of order.
When Jordan and Quincy meet, their connection is undeniable. But Jordan’s celebrity world threatens to pull Quincy into the shadows, a place she refuses to go. Will they fight for a love that could change everything, or walk away before they crash and burn?
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What book will you be reading for the “sapphic sports romances” category? Let us know in the comments!
Book on sale
My publisher is starting off the year with a book sale! For a week, you can get my sapphic romance Just a Touch Away at 70% off on Amazon, Apple Books, Kobo, Ylva, and most other online bookstores. Just a Touch Away is a forced proximity romance featuring an ice queen and a professional cuddler who have to share an apartment for 92 days.
12 Responses
Another wonderful sports series is the Girls of Summer series by Kate Christie. I was really sucked in.
Unadulterated Something (Ice Hockey) by MJ Duncan is one of my favorite books. Nicole Pyland has an 8-book Sports series. I especially loved Always More (#1 volleyball) and Spin Serve (#8 beach volleyball). There are books about archery, figure skating, soccer, football, softball & snowboarding.
I loved Anita Kelly’s This is How You Get the Girl
Hi Jae, thanks for a great looking list of books! I’ve read Clare Lyndon’s Princess Match and it’s fantastic!
So many great options here. I’m waiting for a book on cricket. If I could write, I’d do it myself! Instead I’ll read A Long Way to Fall by Elle Spencer, Overtime by Tracey Richardson and The Love Life by Monica McCallan
Actually, I think Renee Dahlia has an entire series featuring cricket, starting with Maiden Over.
I’m a huge fan of Rachel Spangler who has a lot of sports romances including Thrust, Fire & Ice, and Edge of Glory (fencing, curling, and snowboarding). One of my favorite sports romances in Pas De Deux by E.J. Noyes (dressage).
I definitely recommend all of Rachel Spangler’s novels too. Their novel “Quiver” is set in the world of horse archery.
Another great one is two-time goldie winner Jane Cuthbertson’s debut novel, Game Changers. Happy New Year to everyone!
A Sharp Endless Need is also a great sapphic book where the MCs play basketball :)
The Clinch and Tapout by Nicole Disney are also great sports romances! I especially liked The Clinch.
I have read the following and enjoyed all 3!
1. Something in the Water by MJ Duncan
2. Hoops & Heartstrings by Eliza Lentzski
3. The Princess Match by Clare Lydon