Alabama to Host Wheelchair Basketball National Championship
The University of Alabama will play host to the 2021 Toyota NWBA Collegiate Wheelchair Basketball National Championship, starting March 12. The two day tournament will see both the men's and women's wheelchair basketball teams defend their 2019 national titles.
The $10 million dollar Stran-Hardin Arena, opened in just 2018, was chosen following news of Wichita State being unable to host the tournament.
"We found out about six weeks ago that Wichita State was not going to be able to host the collegiate championships, and we let the NWBA know that same day that we could handle it.” University of Alabama Adapted Athletics Director Brent Hardin said. “Within three days they took us up on our offer and we’ve been rolling with it ever since.”
The men's team, sitting at 7-5 (5-5) this season, are ranked second in the nation and are a two seed in this year's tournament. The men's section of the tournament tips off at 10:00 A.M. on Friday with a five versus four matchup of Eastern Washington and Southwest Minnesota State with Alabama's matchup against third-seeded Auburn coming at 12:15 P.M.
The winner of the first game between EWU and NWSU will move on to play the one seeded UT Arlington at 4:45 P.M. Friday with the championship game coming Saturday at 4:45 P.M.
The women's side of the tournament will be a three game series between Alabama and UT Arlington with the first matchup tipping off on Friday at 2:30 p.m. and continuing on Saturday at 12:15 p.m. with a third game, if required, being played at 7:00 p.m.
Attendance for the tournament will be limited due to COVID-19 guidelines, and each team will be allowed just twenty fans per game. The full tournament can be streamed via the UA Adapted Athletics website.