Lesbians, clear your schedules for Cleat Cute – a sapphic version of Heated Rivalry

If Heated Rivalry has tickled your fancy, but you’re seeking a sapphic version, Cleat Cute may be the show for you.

Heated Rivalry, based on Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novel series, has taken over the internet in recent weeks. The show charts the rivalry between two professional hockey players, Canadian Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Russian Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie).

Over the years of their competitive rivalry, they engage in a passionate but secret romance.

Following the show’s success, many are now hyping up an upcoming sapphic sports romance: Cleat Cute. An adaptation of Meryl Wilsner’s 2023 novel of the same name, the football romance is currently in development.

The book has been described as a mix of Ted Lasso and A League of Their Own.

Fans have already pointed out that the book contains similarities to Heated Rivalry. The book follows 26-year-old footy player Grace Henderson, who has been the star of the US Women’s National Team since she was 16.

However, when an injury puts her on the bench, she is replaced by smiley rookie Phoebe Matthews. Phoebe is Grace’s opposite, a jokester who lights up the pitch. 

The pair have a fierce rivalry, and the last thing either expects is to go from enemies to lovers. With the World Cup approaching, the two women battle for a place on the pitch while trying to nurture their connection. 

Like Heated Rivalry, Cleat Cute is also infused with spicy sex scenes that many fans have praised for their authenticity.

The show is backed by Former WNBA star Sue Bird and ex-US Women’s Soccer captain Megan Rapinoe. The pair have been dating since late 2016 and announced their engagement in October 2020.

Bird and Rapinoe have teamed up with Future Shack Entertainment to adapt the book into a show. 

Bird and Rapinoe’s production company A Touch More and Future Shack are developing the project. Last reported, there was no network attached, but with the success of Heated Rivalry, fingers crossed that will soon change.

“We are thrilled to be working with Future Shack to bring Wilsner’s wonderful book to life,” Bird and Rapinoe said. 

“Having spent most of our lives on teams, we want to celebrate the ways in which relationships, both romantic and platonic, are organically created through sports.

“Cleat Cute will not shy away from the messiness, occasional frustration, and undeniable beauty that come with loving the game and the players within it.”

Fans have been ecstatic about the book becoming a show. “I am going to need all of you to lock in and read cleat cute and tune in to the clear cute adaptation when it airs and give it the exact same hype as all the mlm adaptations or i WILL be on you doorstep,” one fan shared.