Adaptive athletes take center court through Hawks and BlazeSports partnership
- Kate Wilson '27
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
As adaptive sports continue to grow, the conversation around them often does not. Athletes with a disability find themselves in the shadows of non-disabled athletes. Organizations like the Atlanta Hawks basketball team focus their efforts on giving adaptive sports the spotlight they deserve.
In partnership since 2013, The Atlanta Hawks have supported The BlazeSports America Jr. Hawks wheelchair basketball team through donations for uniforms, equipment, and travel, as well as fostering relationships between Hawks players and BlazeSports athletes. An organization committed to supporting athletes through adaptive sports, BlazeSports America provides opportunities for athletes with physical disabilities.
Executive Director of BlazeSports Dawn Churi said, “The support is really monumental and unheard of,” when discussing Blaze’s partnership with the Hawks.
Founded in 1996, the nonprofit organization offers not only adaptive basketball but also
wheelchair track and field and adaptive swimming programs, as well as other adaptive activities.
The BlazeSports Jr. Hawks basketball team offers opportunities for athletes ages 6–18 at all skill levels. Jr. Hawks player Hannah Gladney said, “I have found great friendships and community while playing on the team.”
The program consists of both prep and varsity teams, as well as the Lady Ballers team, providing more opportunities for athletes to get involved. The Jr. Hawks season runs from August to March, with weekly practices. The Jr. Hawks compete throughout the season with competitions taking them all over the country. This past March, both the prep and varsity teams competed in the National Wheelchair Basketball National Championships, with the Prep team advancing to the final.
Alongside practices and travel competitions, the Jr. Hawks bring it home every year for the Big Peach Slam Jam, the nation's largest wheelchair basketball tournament outside of the national championships, sponsored by the Atlanta Hawks. The most recent Slam Jam, held in January of 2026, marked the 10th anniversary of the tournament. According to the NBA, the tournament hosted four of BlazeSports' wheelchair teams as well as 36 teams from across the country.
The support from the Atlanta Hawks not only provides monetary aid and sponsorship of the Slam Jam but also, according to Churi, “a sense of pride for the athletes in wearing the Hawks on their uniforms.” Throughout the partnership, the Hawks welcomed the Jr. Hawks team onto the Hawks court for halftime shows and, for some players, the opportunity to serve as honorary captains.
Gladney said, “It’s an environment where I feel like home because all you see everywhere are wheelchairs and people with disabilities,” when talking about her experience playing for the Jr. Hawks.
Having been on the Jr. Hawks team for five years, Gladney spoke about her noticeable growth in
the sport and her plans to continue her wheelchair basketball career next year as a recruit at the University of Arizona.
Just as Gladney’s journey is not ending, neither is BlazeSports commitment to adaptive sports. Looking to the future, Blaze plans to restart their adaptive soccer teams and launch a wheelchair football team.
The Atlanta Hawks continue to pave the way and set the standard of helping and shining a light on adaptive sports. According to Churi, the mission behind Blaze is to provide “Equitable access to quality and diverse programs,” she said. Blaze remains committed to providing endless opportunities to athletes who often do not see much diversity within the sports they love, and the Hawks’ support helps the organization continue to grow and reach even more athletes.
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