Women’s wheelchair basketball tournament begins Friday at Univ. of Alabama

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) - It’s Championship weekend at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa as the women’s wheelchair basketball tournament gets underway. The tournament features six teams, including Alabama.

The UA women’s wheelchair basketball team is trying for its fourth consecutive title. The team has a perfect record on the year and the championship all begins Friday night.

Players had a shootaround Thursday inside Stran-Hardin Arena, sharpening their shots, their moves, and their determination to win it again.

“We’re ranked number one,” said UA Adapted Athletics Associate Director Margaret Stran.

Stran says wheelchair basketball has come a long way since its start two decades ago.

“When we started the program in 2003, it was only the third women’s wheelchair basketball college team, and so now there are six. And the men’s side has also continued to grow,” said Stran.

Alabama player Moira Paulus, a senior from Wisconsin, is more than eager to get on with the tournament with the hope of being part of something special - a fourth consecutive title.

“Oh, it’s so exciting. I feel like every year winning the championship is always the goal and we’ve had the chance to do that every year,” said Paulus.

“Super excited,” said Abby Bauleke, another senior from Minnesota.

“I mean it’s always nerve-racking no matter how many times you play in games like this. Excited nervous,” said Bauleke.

In all, six teams will compete for the championship, forgetting their partial paralysis and giving courage a good name.

“Definitely, my family keeps me going,” said Bauleke.

“So I would say all the sports I’ve played since I was able to walk,” said Paulus.

The UA wheelchair team enters the tournament undefeated, unblemished with a singular goal in mind - add another championship banner on the wall.

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