Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball Championships - An Interview With Alma Velazquez
By Drew Milne
On April 1st through 4th, 2026, the University of Arizona Wheelchair Basketball team will compete in the Intercollegiate Championships. This is the culmination of not just the season so far, but many months of hard work and dedication by players, coaches, and staff. The event is being hosted at McKale Center at Alkeme Arena, on the University of Arizona campus.
Alma Velazquez is a senior journalism student who plays for the University of Arizona Wheelchair Basketball Team. We sat down with Alma to talk about the upcoming championships as well as what drives her and the team. This season has been a hard fought one, full of ups and downs. Their rival team, Illinois, has certainly not made things easy.
“We just came back from a tournament in Texas, which was our last tournament before nationals. That solidified the way that things were going to look going into nationals – we won against Illinois. This is the first year where we've been able to match Illinois and get their strengths,” Alma said.
“Beating Illinois going into nationals is a really good confidence booster. We're all super excited and we're very motivated and way more driven. I feel like there's a way bigger energy and intensity. I feel a strong will to win this year.”
The men’s division has twelve teams, while the women’s division has four.
“All of the collegiate teams will be here. It's kind of like March Madness, basically, like a bracket system, kind of win or go home.”
Despite the smaller bracket, the competition is still fierce. Alma is confident that her team’s training and group cohesion can take them to the championships and beyond.
“My team captains (Lily Lautenschlager and Hayley Nilsen) have definitely instilled that in us and she has that hunger and she tries her best to convey it to the rest of us. And I feel like without each other, we wouldn't be where we are; we wouldn't be as strong and as confident in our role in being Arizona and representing basically this whole part of the country.”
The games will be held at the McKale center, which holds a special significance for the Adaptive Athletics teams.
“The fact that we finally get to host now here in McKale is a really big deal because we have our home tournaments every year, which we always look forward to, but those games get played at the rec center,” Alma explained. “They’re the courts that we're usually in for practice. So, the fact that we finally get to play in McKale, which is where the able-bodied players get to play, and we get to finally see that equality with adaptive athletics is a really big deal for us.”
Athletics are a powerful way for people to find community and shared purpose. This can be especially powerful for people with disabilities, who may face lack of access and marginalization in other areas of life. Alma says that playing basketball helped her find the community she was looking for..
“I think adaptive sports are definitely something that every kid should know about. It's really, really important because I had no one growing up. I didn't know anyone. I was the only kid in a wheelchair at my school. When I found out about wheelchair basketball, it brought me that community. That's why I stayed with it, and now it's brought me to college. It's shaped me into a bigger person and given me so much. I'm really grateful.”
Alma will be graduating at the end of the 2026 semester. While her time with the U of A Wheelchair Basketball team may be coming to an end, the impact it’s had on her will be felt long after. Alma is looking for ways to continue to not just apply the lessons she’s learned, but remain a part of the community.
“Adaptive athletics and wheelchair basketball has given me a lot of opportunities and I'm grateful regardless of if I continue to play, or whatever role it brings me in the future. I'm in journalism – I'm a journalism major. I love journalism and I would love to cover adaptive athletics. That's something I'm really passionate about.”
While it may be difficult to move outside your comfort zone, the rewards of finding new friends and achieving new goals make it well worth it.
“I think it's important to know for any kids with disabilities: There's so many opportunities, not just basketball, but any athletics. I wish I tried more sports! But when I found basketball, I loved it. I just wish I tried more. So there are opportunities out there, definitely don't be afraid to do that.”
Catch the intercollegiate championships on April 1 through 4, at McKale Center. We hope to see you there. Bear down!