The 12 Best Sports Documentaries Streaming on ESPN+

Sports originated in 7000 BC. That’s an unfathomable amount of history. Think of the untold stories; the life and times of nearly 10 000 years worth of athletes, rivalries, victories, losses, and scandals.

We couldn’t cover it all if we tried, but worry not. ESPN+ has mastered the art of storytelling, and has enough of these tales to keep you busy and entertained for a while, including the popular 30 for 30 series. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best sports documentaries on ESPN+ – and learn how PIA VPN can help you enjoy them even when you’re far from home.

The 12 Best Sports Documentaries on ESPN+

12. Long Gone Summer (2020)

It’s 1998, and St. Louis Cardinals’ Mark McGwire and Chicago Cubs’ Sammy Sosa are in a thrilling race to claim the record for most home runs. Their rivalry is said to have changed the very spirit of baseball in the best way – but their glory came at an expensive price.

11. The American Gladiators Documentary (2023)

Gen X and Millennials will love this in-depth investigation into the heart and soul of the immensely popular American Gladiators. It took the world by storm, entertained the masses, and even sparked an international franchise. But for all its charm, the gladiators don’t remember it so fondly. 

10. Be Water (2020)

An intimate look at the life and times of martial arts master Bruce Lee, this documentary tells his story from the perspective of those who knew him, archive footage, and his personal writings. It’s a beautiful look at who he was — human first, legend second.

9. The Price of Gold (2014)

Here’s a true crime documentary for those who have no interest in blood, gore and the macabre. The Price of Gold details the assault of Nancy Kerrigan, a figure skater who was attacked in the build up to United States Figure Skating Championships and the Winter Olympics of 1994. The motive? To remove her as competition, because some people stop at nothing to win.

8. Chasing Tyson (2015)

You know Mike Tyson bit off a piece of his opponent’s ear, but do you know the full story behind it? Chasing Tyson focuses on Evander Holyfield, the victim of Tyson’s antics, and how his desire to make his mark as the greatest boxer of all time led to the two most historic fights the sport has ever seen.

7. June 17th, 1994 (2010)

A day that turned the world upside down, June 17th, 1994 saw Arnold Palmer play his final US Open, the Rangers celebrated their Stanley Cup victory, Ken Griffey tied Babe Ruth for most home runs, the first US Fifa World Cup commenced, and the NBA final was disrupted… because  OJ Simpson fled police in the most notorious chase in history. 

6. Candace Parker: Unapologetic (2023)

Candace Parker is revered as the GOAT in women’s basketball. Unapologetic is an intimate look at how she became who she is, how basketball shaped her, and how she chooses to be authentic on and off the court.

5. Celtics|Lakers Best of Enemies (2017)

Considered the biggest – and greatest – rivalry in basketball, American sports and possibly even world history, this three parter explores the heat between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics; and how it revived basketball and shaped it into the sport we love.

4. The Captain 

Derek Jeter is said to be the greatest Yankee, and the greatest catcher, of all time. This seven-part miniseries highlights his career, accomplishments and legacy, and what it took for him to become a living legend.

3. Unrivaled: Red Wings v Avalanche

Hockey has always had a reputation for violence, but the rivalry between the Colorado Avalanche and the Detroit Red Wings goes far beyond the odd brawl. These two teams despise each other so strongly, it’s resulted in bloodshed. Take an unfiltered look at the hate that fuels them.

2. The Last Dance

In 1997, a film crew followed the Chicago Bulls to get a behind the scenes look at the team in the sunset of their most prolific run. This 10-part series breathes new life into a story as old as time – that of Michael Jordan. Get ready to relive his glory days, and appreciate him, and the team, in a new light.

1. OJ: Made In America

No sports scandal caused as many ripples as OJ Simpson’s incarceration. The world almost unanimously agrees he was guilty of the crimes he was accused of, and many suspect he evaded conviction because of a biased jury. OJ: Made in America, delves deep into the prejudice that will never cease to be a point of discussion – in his life, and his trial. This 30 for 30 documentary is a must-watch – so much so it has a 100% critic’s score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Why Watch ESPN+ with a VPN?

Have you ever wanted to sneak some sports or entertainment into work hours, only to find your workplace has streaming services blocked? Or tried to stream a match or ESPN+ sports documentary series during peak hours, and had to deal with ISP throttling? Maybe you’ve traveled abroad and couldn’t access your account because you weren’t in the US.

A VPN solves all of these problems – and protects your data. When you connect to one, your IP address is hidden behind a VPN server IP. This does two important things – it virtually places you in a different location, and it hides your activity from third parties.

Since ESPN+ is only available in the US, all you have to do when you’re abroad is connect to a USA VPN server, and you’ll be able to stream as if you were at home. Your ISP won’t be able to throttle your connection based on your activity (because they won’t be able to tell what you’re up to), and you’ll be able to bypass network blocks. You’ll also stay safe, even on public Wi-Fi, with strong encryption.

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Why PIA Is the Best VPN for Sports

A VPN is a must-have for sure, but don’t make the mistake of settling for a subpar one. You don’t want to have to deal with laggy streams and constant buffering.

PIA VPN has 10-Gbps streaming-optimized servers, and you get unlimited bandwidth. This means you will always be able to connect to ESPN+ and other sports streaming services and stream all you like, no matter your network or where you are. 

You’ll also enjoy seamless connections, and won’t have to worry about buffering, lag, or uncalled for loading times. PIA VPN has servers in all 50 states, so you’ll always have a way around frustrating blackouts too.

The PIA app is easy to use, and you can enjoy the best sports documentaries on ESPN+ securely on any device. You also get unlimited device connections, so if there are other sports fans in your household, they can stream on their own devices at the same time. Our customer support team is available 24/7 if you have any questions.

Try PIA VPN risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Those sports documentaries aren’t going to watch themselves!

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