With the clock ticking towards the 2024 Olympics, the rush to qualify for Paris is intensifying. While this is true for Olympians, it also holds true for Paralympians who are working shoulder-to-shoulder to represent their nation. Amid this, the American wheelchair basketball players just got an update on their qualification status.

The US wheelchair basketball team is one of the most formidable teams in the world. Hence, the competition for a spot on the Olympic team is nothing but top tier. A new social media post has now announced an initial list of players who have made it to the pool of possible team finalists.

Wheelchair basketball selections after recent tryouts

Wheelchair basketball athletes recently appeared for official tryouts for the national team between 3-7 January. Based on these trials, the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) made the initial selection of players. The NWBA added separate posts on their official Facebook page for the lists of both male and female players.

The lists showcased the names of 16 wheelchair basketball players who successfully made it to the Paralympic selection pool. The women’s team is chock full of several great ballers who have helped the US win international medals before. Out of the 16 women selected, 12 of them were part of the 2023 Parapan American Games squad that won the gold in Santiago, Chile.

Moreover, 10 of them also boast of being part of America’s bronze-winning endeavor at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games. The men’s pool also has eight Paralympic gold medalists from Tokyo. Despite this, not everyone will make it to the final team for Paris.

The Paralympic selection camp for the 2024 Paris Games

The selected wheelchair basketball players will train as well as compete with each other for a spot on the 2024 Paralympic team. Players will attend an elite selection camp from 27 to 31 March at the Olympic and Paralympic training center in Colorado Springs.

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Out of the 16 wheelchair basketball stars in both men’s and women’s teams, only 12 will make it to the main roster. The remaining four players will make the reserve pool. While the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games are 201 days away, the wheelchair basketball matches will begin on 28th August. This will give the final team an additional month to train. Will the US win the gold medal at the grand stage of Paris?

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