[Query] COURT SHIP, Adult LGBTQ+ Romance, 80k, 2nd attempt

Back again with another attempt! Thanks so much for your help last time BC!

Dear [agent],

[personalization if applicable]

COURT SHIP is a dual POV sapphic sports romance complete at 80,000 words. Fans of the rivals-to-lovers arc featured in Kate Cochrane’s Wake Up, Nat and Darcy, the snarky humor from Ashley Herring Blake’s Delilah Green Doesn’t Care, and the basketball setting of Samantha Saldivar’s Play You For It will think this is a slam dunk.

WNBA player **Dani Nichols’**s endorsement deals dried up years ago, after Seven Sandstrom’s careless soundbite publicly branded Dani a team-hopping mercenary. When her brother’s mental health declines, Dani uproots her life to help him. But to maintain her sole source of income, she must join the local team — the Minnesota Pride, led by Seven. Incensed when Seven questions why she signed, Dani insults the team and threatens to replace Seven in the starting lineup. 

Aging hometown hero Seven blames herself for the Pride’s recent losing streak. But Dani’s disrespectful attitude activates Seven’s competitive side and her desire to protect her beloved team. Convinced that Dani will poison the locker room, Seven vows to send her packing. She’ll annoy her humorless new teammate into requesting a trade with a barrage of practical jokes. Instead, Dani returns fire, launching their prank war.

After discovering a mogul’s plan to buy and gut the Pride, Seven and Dani agree to stop their feud and strike a deal. They’ll attract a better buyer and bolster Dani’s market value with a championship run. Through trust exercises, charity events, and coaching sessions with a shy rookie, the quirky team gets past Dani’s defenses, and so does Seven. When a night out leads to a surprisingly tender hookup, Dani must decide if she can trust the woman who burned her. And by falling for her biggest competitor, Seven could sacrifice her heart — and the future of her beloved team.

I write stories that give queer women the happily ever afters we deserve. I hold a bachelor’s degree in creative writing from [college]. I live in [place] with three cats, one fiancé, and a closet full of Breanna Stewart jerseys. 

Sincerely,
[name]