Ready to Score Summary, Characters and Themes
Ready to Score by Jodie Slaughter is a captivating story that explores the challenges faced by women in leadership, particularly in male-dominated fields. The book centers on Jade Dunn, an assistant football coach at Greenbelt Senior High School in South Carolina.
Jade, a Black bisexual woman, is ambitious and determined to secure the role of head coach when the current coach, Landry, retires. However, she faces competition from Francesca “Franny” Lim, an arts teacher who unexpectedly becomes involved with the football team. As Jade navigates her rivalry with Franny, both professionally and personally, the story delves into issues of self-doubt, ambition, competition, and attraction. It’s a journey of growth, resilience, and the pursuit of respect in a world that often undermines the value of women, particularly those who break traditional norms.
Summary
The story of Ready to Score follows Jade Dunn, an ambitious assistant football coach at Greenbelt Senior High School, who is determined to rise to the position of head coach when the current coach, Landry, retires. As a Black, bisexual woman in a male-dominated field, Jade has worked hard to earn her place and is confident in her ability to lead the team.
However, her career path is threatened when Francesca “Franny” Lim, an arts teacher with a surprising aptitude for coaching, becomes more involved with the football team.
Franny, who recently moved to Greenbelt after coaching in Houston, quickly earns the favor of both students and faculty with her charm and people-pleasing demeanor. While Jade’s personality is more intense and serious, which makes it difficult for her to connect with others, Franny’s easy-going nature helps her to gain the support of those around her.
Tensions between Jade and Franny rise as Jade becomes increasingly jealous of Franny’s growing influence, especially when Franny secures a SMART board for her classroom—a piece of equipment Jade has been trying to get for her own.
Jade’s jealousy intensifies as Franny’s involvement with the team increases. She sees Franny not just as a colleague but as a threat to her career ambitions.
This rivalry is further fueled by an incident at a poker night organized by Coach Landry. During this event, Jade and Franny engage in subtle challenges against one another, showcasing their growing professional competition.
Despite this tension, there is also a budding attraction between the two women that neither is willing to acknowledge.
Their rivalry escalates when Franny unintentionally embarrasses herself during a fundraiser event by calling out a bingo win that wasn’t valid. Jade witnesses this public humiliation with a complex mixture of satisfaction and discomfort.
She realizes that, despite Franny’s mistakes, her rival is still a formidable coach with her own strengths.
As Jade navigates her own insecurities and professional struggles, she becomes more aware of the gender, racial, and sexual identity challenges she faces. Coach Landry, while supportive, warns her of the political complexities involved in leadership.
Jade grapples with her fear of failure, which becomes more pronounced as she deals with the reality of competing for the head coach position.
Throughout the narrative, both women are depicted as striving for the same goal—respect in a world that wasn’t built for women, especially women of color or those who defy traditional norms. Jade’s journey is one of self-discovery and emotional growth.
Despite her serious, focused approach, she begins to understand that Franny is not just a rival but a person with her own ambitions and struggles.
The growing tension between Jade and Franny ultimately leads to a moment of vulnerability when Franny sustains a concussion during a practice. Jade is forced to take care of her rival, driving her to the hospital and watching over her in a way that softens the animosity between them.
This shift marks the beginning of their evolving relationship, as Jade starts to see Franny in a different light, beyond the competition and rivalry.
While Jade’s feelings for Franny complicate her professional life, she cannot ignore the growing connection between them. Their relationship evolves from one of rivalry to something more intimate, though Jade remains conflicted about her feelings.
She struggles to maintain her focus on her career while navigating her attraction to Franny, which further complicates her sense of self and her professional ambitions.
The emotional tension between Jade and Franny continues to build as they both confront their insecurities. Franny, despite her growing admiration for Jade’s work ethic and competence, cannot ignore her own feelings for her rival.
At a group dinner with friends, Franny admits to her feelings for Jade, though she remains unsure about how to proceed, especially considering the dynamics between them.
Meanwhile, Jade’s emotional turmoil deepens as she realizes the full extent of her feelings for Franny. She recognizes that the rivalry between them is not simply a professional competition but a deeply personal struggle.
Jade’s internal conflict intensifies as she faces the possibility of losing both the professional opportunity she’s worked for and the woman she has developed feelings for.
As the story progresses, Jade’s relationship with Franny becomes more complex. Franny’s growing role in the football program, her promotion to head coach of the offensive line, and her connection with Jade lead to moments of shared intimacy, though both women remain hesitant to fully embrace their feelings.
Jade’s journey becomes one of self-discovery, as she learns to navigate the professional and personal challenges that come with her ambitions and desires.
The book culminates in a significant moment when Jade faces the pressures of making a crucial decision during a championship game. With only twelve seconds left in the game, Jade makes the tough call to put in a freshman, Sam Coleman, who rises to the challenge and helps the team secure a victory.
This moment represents Jade’s growth as a coach and as a person, as she learns to trust her instincts and make difficult choices.
In the final moments of the story, Jade reflects on her personal and professional growth. She is officially announced as the new head coach of the Greenbelt Gators, marking a major milestone in her career.
The support of her friends, family, and Franny helps her recognize how far she has come, both in terms of her career and her personal life. As Jade and Franny celebrate their victory together, Jade feels a sense of fulfillment and hope for the future, knowing that she has found a balance between her professional ambitions and her relationship with Franny.
Ready to Score is a journey of self-empowerment, personal growth, and navigating the complexities of relationships and professional aspirations. It highlights the challenges faced by women in leadership, particularly those who strive to break barriers in traditionally male-dominated fields, and how love and competition can coexist in such high-stakes environments.
Characters
Jade Dunn
Jade Dunn is the protagonist of Ready to Score, a passionate and driven assistant football coach at Greenbelt Senior High. Her ambition is evident as she strives to become the head coach of the football team, hoping to prove herself in a male-dominated field.
Jade is a Black, bisexual woman who faces the dual challenge of overcoming systemic barriers related to her race and gender. Throughout the story, Jade’s internal struggles are deeply tied to her fears of inadequacy and her desire to be taken seriously in her professional role.
Her intense focus on achieving her goals often creates friction with her colleagues, particularly Francesca “Franny” Lim, with whom she has a complex, competitive relationship.
Jade’s journey is defined by her inner conflict as she navigates professional challenges while also confronting her feelings for Franny. At the beginning of the story, Jade views Franny as a direct threat to her ambitions, particularly when Franny’s natural charm and ease with people begin to win favor in the faculty and among the students.
This jealousy and competition intensify as the two women vie for the head coach position. Despite her tough exterior, Jade’s vulnerability shines through as she grapples with self-doubt and fear of failure, especially when she faces setbacks and makes mistakes in her personal and professional life.
However, Jade’s evolution throughout the story is marked by her self-awareness and growth. As she navigates her feelings for Franny, she begins to realize that her emotional struggles are not just personal obstacles but also reflections of the pressure she faces as a woman in a position of power.
Jade’s final achievement as the first Black woman to hold a coaching position at Greenbelt becomes a moment of pride and empowerment, symbolizing her growth both as a leader and as a person.
Francesca “Franny” Lim
Francesca “Franny” Lim enters Ready to Score as a newcomer to Greenbelt, bringing with her a background in coaching from Houston. Initially, Franny is seen as an outsider, but her competence and quiet determination quickly gain her respect.
She is confident, charming, and unafraid of the challenges she faces as a woman in a male-dominated field, qualities that make her a formidable rival to Jade. Franny’s attraction to Jade complicates her professional demeanor, especially as their rivalry deepens, and the tension between them evolves into something more personal and complicated.
Franny’s growth throughout the story mirrors Jade’s in many ways. While she is initially focused on proving herself and gaining a coaching role, her relationship with Jade leads her to confront her feelings and desires, both professionally and personally.
As Jade distances herself, Franny begins to question her own motivations, wondering if she is drawn to Jade because of their professional rivalry or if there is something deeper at play. This internal conflict fuels Franny’s actions as she tries to balance her growing respect for Jade with her growing attraction to her.
Franny’s emotional journey is marked by a sense of agency that she gains as the story unfolds. Her promotion to head coach of the offensive line symbolizes her increasing influence and competence, even as she continues to wrestle with her feelings for Jade.
By the end of the story, Franny recognizes that her relationship with Jade is not just about competition but about a deeper, emotional connection that neither of them can easily dismiss. Her growth as both a coach and a person is a key element of the story, as she learns to embrace vulnerability and authenticity in her relationship with Jade.
Coach Landry
Coach Landry is the current head coach of the Greenbelt Gators and serves as a mentor to Jade, despite the growing tensions between them. Landry represents both the established authority and the challenges that Jade faces in her pursuit of the head coach position.
His support is genuine, but it is tempered by his recognition of the complexities surrounding Jade’s role as a woman in a leadership position. While Landry believes in Jade’s abilities, his own biases and the expectations of the school and community add an extra layer of difficulty to her journey.
Landry’s eventual decision to pass on the coaching role to Jade reflects both his belief in her potential and the limitations imposed by his own understanding of the politics surrounding leadership. His presence in Jade’s life serves as a reminder of the systemic barriers she must navigate, but also as a source of guidance as she begins to find her way.
Ultimately, Landry’s role in Jade’s story is that of a facilitator—he helps her realize her potential, even as he remains a symbol of the old guard that she must surpass.
Coach Byrd
Coach Byrd plays a minor yet significant role in Ready to Score, particularly during the poker night scene. He unwittingly becomes a catalyst for Jade’s internal conflict when he mentions a rumor about a star player from another school, triggering Jade’s anxiety over Franny’s possible knowledge of the situation.
While Byrd’s impact on the story is more peripheral, his presence highlights the dynamics of the coaching world that Jade and Franny are navigating, especially the complex webs of gossip, rumors, and competitive tension that often arise in such environments. His casual attitude contrasts with Jade’s intensity, emphasizing the differences in how the two women handle the pressures around them.
Vonte
Vonte is a player on the Greenbelt Gators football team, and while his role in the story is more supportive, he represents the team dynamics that Jade must manage as she works to prove herself. His inclusion in the final game, where Jade makes the crucial decision to substitute him out in favor of a freshman, symbolizes Jade’s growing confidence in her leadership abilities.
Vonte’s presence underscores the challenges Jade faces not only in her personal life but also in her professional role as a coach who must make tough, strategic decisions for the greater good of the team. His development as a player and his relationship with Jade highlight the importance of mentorship and leadership in the narrative.
Sam Coleman
Sam Coleman, a freshman on the Greenbelt Gators football team, has a brief but important role in the story. He symbolizes the hope and future of the team, particularly in the climactic moment when Jade decides to sub him in for the final play of the game.
Sam’s inexperience and nervousness are a reflection of the risks Jade takes as a coach. His success in that moment not only validates Jade’s decision but also marks her evolution as a leader who can trust her players and make bold, unconventional choices.
Sam’s moment of glory also highlights the theme of growth—both personal and professional—that runs throughout the story.
Themes
Gender and Sexuality in a Male-Dominated Field
The narrative touches on the unique challenges faced by Jade as a Black, bisexual woman in a predominantly male, heteronormative environment. In a field such as football, where traditional gender roles and masculinity dominate, Jade constantly struggles with how she is perceived, both as a coach and as a woman.
Her professional journey reflects the difficulties of overcoming the gendered biases inherent in the coaching world, where men are often given more space and authority. This theme is explored through Jade’s rivalry with Francesca, where both women are forced to navigate a landscape that wasn’t originally designed for them.
Jade’s internal battle with her identity—her race, gender, and sexuality—creates a sense of constant self-doubt, particularly when contrasted with the more palatable, people-pleasing persona of Francesca. Jade’s determination to prove herself as a capable leader despite these hurdles becomes central to her character development.
Moreover, the dynamic between Jade and Francesca represents the intersection of competition and attraction in a space where women are already fighting for recognition. It explores how their professional rivalry is complicated by their evolving personal relationship, making it difficult for Jade to balance her ambition with her growing feelings for Francesca.
The struggle for recognition and respect as a woman in coaching challenges not just their skills but their self-worth, as they are pushed to redefine their identities both within and outside of the game.
Professional Rivalry and the Politics of Leadership
The competition between Jade and Francesca serves as a metaphor for the larger struggles of professional ambition and the politics of leadership. Both women, despite their different approaches and personalities, are striving to reach the same goal: to become the head coach of the Greenbelt Gators.
The tension between them escalates as they try to outdo each other in the eyes of their colleagues, especially Coach Landry, whose mentorship plays a significant role in shaping Jade’s aspirations. The rivalry is heightened by the contrasting styles of leadership—Jade’s intense, focused demeanor versus Francesca’s more charismatic, people-pleasing approach.
This conflict speaks to the nuances of leadership in a competitive environment, where personal dynamics often interfere with professional growth. The story doesn’t just focus on their rivalry but also on the political maneuvering behind it.
Jade’s frustrations grow as Francesca seems to gain favor through charm and likability, qualities that are often prioritized over competence in leadership positions. Meanwhile, Jade’s more serious, hard-working approach is overlooked or misunderstood by her peers.
This creates a sense of alienation and self-doubt for Jade, who feels she has to prove herself through her actions rather than being accepted based on her merits. Ultimately, both women must confront the realization that to succeed, they must not only outsmart each other but also navigate the political landscape of school and town dynamics, where external factors often determine success more than internal capabilities.
Self-Discovery and Emotional Growth
Jade’s journey throughout the story is one of personal and emotional growth, as she grapples with her insecurities, her ambitions, and her emotions for Francesca. At the start of the story, Jade is consumed by the desire to prove herself, driven by her aspirations of becoming the head coach.
Her relationship with Francesca complicates this goal, as the underlying attraction between them challenges Jade’s focus. As their rivalry deepens, Jade’s internal world is increasingly dominated by confusion and frustration.
However, as the story unfolds, Jade begins to see Francesca in a new light—moving beyond the professional competition to recognize the shared experiences they have as women in a male-dominated world. Jade’s emotional journey is marked by moments of vulnerability, where she acknowledges her fears, her mistakes, and her feelings for Francesca.
The pivotal moment in this emotional growth comes when Jade realizes that her fear of failure is a barrier to both her professional and personal development. By confronting her feelings for Francesca and allowing herself to be vulnerable, Jade starts to unlock a deeper understanding of herself.
This theme also extends to Francesca, who, though more self-assured on the surface, undergoes a similar emotional evolution. As the two women navigate their complex dynamic, they both learn that success is not only measured by external achievements but also by the emotional maturity to confront one’s own desires and fears.
Ambition, Competition, and Sacrifice
At the heart of the narrative is Jade’s relentless ambition to become the head coach of the Greenbelt Gators, a role she believes will validate her hard work, dedication, and expertise. The drive for success is a central aspect of her character, but it comes at a significant emotional cost.
The intense competition with Francesca pushes Jade to reevaluate her priorities and question whether achieving her dream is worth the sacrifices she must make along the way. As Jade navigates her professional path, she faces moments of doubt, particularly when she feels that her identity as a woman of color and a bisexual individual puts her at a disadvantage.
Her desire to be seen as competent in a space that often doesn’t recognize her efforts causes her to make difficult choices, including taking risks and sometimes compromising her own values. Jade’s internal conflict between ambition and integrity becomes a key theme as she struggles to reconcile her professional desires with her personal morals.
Similarly, Francesca’s journey mirrors Jade’s in that both women must grapple with what they are willing to sacrifice in their pursuit of success. The story explores how ambition, when unchecked, can lead to isolation, but it also shows the importance of finding a balance between professional success and personal well-being.
Both women learn that their competition with each other cannot solely define their worth, and that true success lies not just in victory but in the relationships and growth they experience along the way.
Breaking Barriers and Redefining Identity
The story challenges traditional notions of gender, race, and sexuality through its exploration of Jade and Francesca’s experiences. Jade’s rise in the football world as a Black, bisexual woman is a direct confrontation with the barriers that often prevent marginalized individuals from achieving their professional goals.
Throughout the narrative, the theme of breaking barriers is explored not only in the context of coaching but also in terms of personal identity. Jade must constantly navigate the prejudices and expectations placed on her by society—expectations based on her race, gender, and sexuality.
This struggle is reflected in her interactions with others, including Francesca, as Jade grapples with how to be accepted without compromising who she is. As she moves closer to her goal of becoming head coach, Jade learns that she cannot fully succeed if she doesn’t embrace all parts of her identity.
The story asks whether it is possible to break through societal limitations without losing one’s sense of self. Similarly, Francesca’s story reflects the complexities of redefining identity in a competitive, gendered space.
Both women, in their different ways, must challenge the roles that others have set for them, asserting their place in a world that doesn’t always welcome them. By the end of the story, both Jade and Francesca are symbols of progress and change, representing the evolving landscape of leadership, competition, and identity in spaces traditionally dominated by men.