WHAT: The United Spinal Liberty women’s wheelchair basketball team will be participating in the 32nd Annual National Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Tournament in Birmingham, Alabama. The event marks Liberty’s debut appearance at the tournament, they will be playing against three experienced women’s college teams. The tournament will be featuring 11 women basketball teams.

WHEN & WHERE: The Nationals will be played on March 2–4 at Lakeshore Foundation: 4000 Ridgeway Drive, Birmingham, Alabama.

WHO: The United Spinal Liberty, co-sponsored by United Spinal Association and the New York Liberty, consists of 15 women, ranging in age from 5 to 51 years old. The New York Liberty is the first professional WNBA team to sponsor a wheelchair basketball team and the United Spinal Liberty is the 11th women’s wheelchair basketball team in the country.

Head Coach Re Marks explained, “The team started when a group of women wanted to continue playing the sport they loved after ‘aging out’ of the junior wheelchair basketball programs at just 21 years old. There are many teams for men, but the women wanted to have a team of their own,” Marks continued. “United Spinal Association has been a monumental help in achieving this sponsorship with the Liberty and we are proud to be part of such an established team and organization.”

MEDIA CONTACT: Jennifer M. Rodriguez; work: (718) 803-3782, ext. 282; cell: (917) 734-6032; or by E-mail.

MORE ABOUT WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL:

Wheelchair basketball follows the same rules as NCAA basketball with several exceptions. There is a four-second lane violation rule for the offense, as opposed to the standard three seconds, and players are classified according to the severity of their disability. Players with the most mobility are assigned “Class III,” while players with the least mobility are graded “Class I.” Teams are not allowed to have more than 12 classification points on the court at any one time. Anyone with a disability that prevents him or her from playing traditional basketball is eligible to play wheelchair basketball. Common disabilities include spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, and amputations.

United Spinal Association is a national nonprofit disability rights organization. The Association sponsors a wide variety of wheelchair recreational and adaptive sports programs, guided by the belief that the benefits of athletic competition are no different for athletes with disabilities than for the able-bodied. Membership is free and open to all individuals with spinal cord disabilities or disorders. For more information call our toll free number, 800-404-2898.