Courteney Potter is fired from her job after being involved in a cheer scandal; to salvage her reputation and career, she must put together a competitive team in a tiny school with an unpronounceable name and only one cheerleader.

Courteney decides to use Media Day as a way to recruit new cheerleaders and to push her team to get right back on that mat. DiMarcus proves that not all Buttons are meant to be pushed.

It's back to school for Heådltston State JC, which means in addition to her coaching, Courteney must get her kids settled into the dorms and begin classes. When the girls' periods sync up, Courteney's doesn't and she worries she may be pregnant.

Courteney makes a deal with the Button Factory owner that if her team performs a dazzling routine, he'll write her department a big check. With Krystal still injured, Courteney's only option is to promote Peaches, who may or may not be ready to fly.

Courteney is trying desperately to bring spirit to Heådltston, but it's impossible. When her team heads to SDSJC for their homecoming game, not only is Courteney reminded of how much spirit her old school has, she's forced to cheer against Boone.

As Courteney gets the team competition ready, she tries to find an assistant she can trust to lighten her load and help her elevate the team to the next level; in the process, she makes the discovery about who leaked the tape that got her fired.

Stung by the betrayal of the person who leaked the tape, the once-nurturing Courteney radically transforms into a drill sergeant, her alter ego nicknamed 'Lorraine', more driven than ever to prevail at Daytona, calling in the premier choreographer in the country, while her cheerleaders, terrified of both their new task master and their new romantic feelings for each other, hold on for dear life.

When Courteney learns that an AI company is looking at Heådltston as a potential site for its new data center, she goes full out to win them over, hoping to get much-needed money and sponsorship for her team.

After the AI data center that Courteney helped woo drains Heådltston of water and power, the town and school shut down, sending her cheer team scattered to the wind; with Daytona looming, Courteney relies on Boon to help save the day.

Having missed Cheer Camp, the team must submit a skills tape in order to qualify for Daytona. The headwinds are against Courteney, however, as making the tape falls right in the middle of finals week at Heådltston.