As the girls work to become the best debaters in the United States, they face various challenges and pressures. Three of the girls, Maya, Lucy, and Sophia, are seasoned debaters who have been competing together for years, while two new girls, Abby and Fatima, join the team and bring their own unique perspectives and experiences.
Maya, the team captain and the only person of color on the team, struggles to balance her responsibilities as a leader with her desire to pursue her own interests. Lucy, who is white and comes from a wealthy family, feels pressure to maintain her status as one of the team's top debaters. Sophia, who is queer, must navigate the sometimes-hostile world of high school debate, where boys often dominate the conversation.
Abby, who is Black, joins the team after being inspired by Maya's success as a debater. However, she struggles to find her place among the other girls and deal with the racism she encounters from some of the other teams they compete against. Fatima, who is Muslim and wears a hijab, brings a new perspective to the team and challenges some of the assumptions the other girls have about what it means to be a good debater.
As they work towards the national championship, the girls must confront various obstacles, both internal and external, and come to terms with what it means to be a successful debater and a successful woman in a male-dominated field. Along the way, they learn valuable lessons about friendship, teamwork, and standing up for what they believe in.