And while Horton will be remembered for her athletic skills, she and her sister will also be remembered for Double Teamed, which starred Annie McElwain as Horton and Poppi Monroe as Quella, and dramatized the sisters rise to basketball stardom.
After Horton’s passing, McElwain shared a touching tribute with E! News, saying in a statement, “I’m saddened to hear of the passing of Heidi Burge. While I didn’t know Heidi personally, I’m incredibly grateful that her story, alongside Heather’s, became Double Teamed and reached so many young viewers.”
“At a time when there were so few films celebrating women in sports, Heidi and Heather’s story helped young girls see that they, too, could dream big and become elite athletes,” she continued. “It’s a beautiful legacy to leave behind, and I hope the inspiration Heidi’s story sparked continues to create a ripple effect for generations to come. My thoughts are with her family and loved ones.”
Of course, the movie did make some changes to their story.
“They did take the major themes of our lives, like the big move and having to fit the new, whole wealthier neighborhood,” one sister shared on the Magical Rewind podcast in July 2025. “They added things to make it more drama, like the girl that was really bad on the team and was trying to get us off the team and the guy.”
The two also said they never faced off against each other as portrayed in the final scene of the film.
Horton is survived by her husband Patrick Horton, as well as their children Jonathan, 23, and Holly, 21.