The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and NCAA office of inclusion today announced four activations across the collegiate landscape as a continuation of the joint USOPC/NCAA Para-College Inclusion Project originally announced in 2023. Events will once again be held in wheelchair basketball, track and field, and wheelchair tennis.
The activations are part of an extended commitment by both organizations to engage schools with adaptive sport while simultaneously increasing Paralympic sport understanding, awareness and connection at various NCAA championships. The work has been advanced by athletes and sport leaders representing the USOPC Collegiate Advisory Council and NCAA committees supporting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
"The NCAA is distinctly honored to once again partner with the USOPC to create awareness about Para sports at the collegiate level, celebrate collegiate Para sport student-athletes and to foster participation opportunities," said Jean Merrill, NCAA director of inclusion. "In a Paralympic Games year, we acknowledge the critical role our NCAA member institutions play in building a pipeline for Team USA and for fostering lifelong health and wellness."
"We're thrilled to continue our groundbreaking collaboration on Paralympic awareness and opportunities with the NCAA office of inclusion," said Julie Dussliere, USOPC Paralympics chief. "The overwhelming response from colleges and athletes last year was astounding, and we're eager to spotlight Para sport and the importance of growing the collegiate pipeline to even more athletes, schools and fans nationwide."
Guided by four tactical teams, the Para-College Inclusion Project will hold the events and launch the initiative outlined below this year.
Wheelchair basketball at the Division I Women's Basketball Championship: Following in the path of last year's inaugural scrimmage, the USOPC, NCAA and National Wheelchair Basketball Association will again work together to present a Team USA vs. College All-Star Game during halftime of the Division I Women's Basketball Championship final game on Sunday, April 7, in Cleveland. The presentation will include an athlete recognition ceremony and scrimmage during the 8-minute halftime window. Additionally, the NCAA's Tourney Town on April 6 will include a scrimmage hosted by the local Cleveland Wheelchair Cavaliers club team and feature players as panelists in the NCAA's Beyond the Baseline series. The following Team USA athletes are set to participate at this year's event: Josie Aslakson (Paralympic bronze medalist), Abigayle Jean Dunn, Rebecca Murray (two-time Paralympic gold medalist), Courtney Ryan (Paralympic bronze medalist), Natalie Schneider (two-time Paralympic gold medalist, Paralympic bronze medalist) and Lindsey Zurbrugg (Paralympic bronze medalist). The Collegiate All-Stars team will feature Crystal Jones (City University of New York), Mada Shannon McCabe (Wisconsin-Whitewater), Bailey Moody (Alabama), Hayley Nilsen (Arizona), Marlee Wagstaff (Illinois) and Zoe Voris (UT Arlington). Moody and Voris are also Paralympic bronze medalists.
Wheelchair tennis at the NCAA Division I championships: For the second year in a row, collegiate wheelchair tennis will have a presence at the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Tennis Championships. The Intercollegiate Tennis Association, United States Tennis Association and NCAA will include the final four of the collegiate singles wheelchair tennis championships alongside the NCAA Division I singles championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on May 24-25. Both the semifinal and final wheelchair matches will take place on the primary courts, timed between the NCAA championship singles and doubles finals.
Wheelchair champions crowned in Eugene: For the first time, the 100-meter races in the collegiate wheelchair championships will take place as part of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The top eight men and eight women from the preliminary qualifying races at the universities of Arizona and Illinois will join their fellow NCAA student-athletes from June 7-8 in Eugene, Oregon. One male and one female athlete will be crowned national champions in the wheelchair championships. The discipline was included for the first time at the 2023 Drake Relays.
Para-College Sport Hub: The USOPC and NCAA will launch a one-stop shop intended to serve as a vehicle for growth of Para sport programs and athlete participation at campuses across the nation. Targeted to high school athletes and college administrators, it will be launched in the coming months.
