NWBA and Visit Wichita announce Wichita as host of Adult and Junior Division Championships, portions of 2023 National Championship Series

Photo courtesy of Visit Wichita and James Kellerman

Adding to a number of sporting events Visit Wichita will host in 2023, the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) Board of Directors announced today that Wichita will once again be the host for adult and junior division portions of its National Championship Series. Wichita has hosted the event the past three years and will be the host of the organization’s 2023 series.

The following national tournaments will be hosted in Wichita, Kansas, in 2023:

Friday, March 24 to Sunday, March 26

• NWBA Varsity Wheelchair Basketball National Championships
• NWBA Prep Wheelchair Basketball National Championships
• NWBA Varsity Wheelchair Basketball Invitational Tournament

Friday, March 31 to Sunday, April 2

• NWBA Adult Division I Wheelchair Basketball National Championships
• NWBA Adult Division II Wheelchair Basketball National Championships
• NWBA Adult Division III Wheelchair Basketball National Championships

“The adult division and junior division portions of the 2023 National Championship Series will be hosted on concurring weekends versus the same weekend as it has been hosted for the previous three seasons. This change gives us the opportunity to provide a more focused and tailored experience for our athletes at every level,” said Matt Pierre, NWBA board of directors member and national tournaments evaluation team member.

The above events will be hosted at Wichita Hoops, a state of the art, 12-court basketball facility. Wichita Hoops has more than 100,000 feet of expansive hardwood basketball courts, and comes with other critical amenities, such as built in shot clocks and scoreboards, as well as electronically adjustable rim heights for Junior Prep Division games.

Wichita is no stranger to hosting large scale wheelchair basketball competitions and will be well prepared for hosting these tournaments as they have hosted the adult and junior division portions of the National Championship Series the last three years. 

"It is an honor for Wichita to once again be selected by the National Wheelchair Basketball Association to host the National Championship Series,” said Josh Howell, vice president of sports development at Visit Wichita. “We’re thrilled for yet another opportunity to showcase Sedgwick County and Wichita’s world-class facilities, attractions and hospitality. Just as we have done in previous years, we plan to put our best foot forward and provide a fantastic welcome to the 96 teams who will be competing in these national championships in the heart of the country."

The top 16 ranked teams for each adult division (I, II, III) will earn an invite to their respective division’s national tournament. A total of 48 teams from the three adult divisions will battle it out for a coveted national title during this event, which is projected to bring more than 1,100 athletes, coaches and officials, plus players’ friends and family to Wichita, with an estimated local economic impact of $1.3 million.

The top 16 ranked teams for varsity level in the junior division will earn an invite to compete in the NWBA Junior Varsity Wheelchair Basketball National Championships, based on their performance throughout the season. Varsity teams ranked 17-32 will receive an invite to participate in the NWBA Junior Varsity Wheelchair Basketball Invitational Tournament. The top 16 ranked teams from Prep level within the junior division will earn an invitation to participate in the NWBA junior prep Wheelchair Basketball National Championships. 

"On behalf of NWBA Leadership, we are grateful for the investment and commitment that Visit Wichita continues to contribute to the sport of wheelchair basketball," said Matt Pierre. “We are excited to continue our business with Visit Wichita and bring over 1,100 wheelchair ballers to Wichita in the spring of 2023." 

Wichita has hosted numerous sporting events over the past few years and have many more on the calendar in 2023 such as US Youth Soccer’s National Presidents Cup. In 2022, Wichita was host to Sweet 16 and Elite 8 of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament as well as the US Figure Skating National Theatre on Ice. Wichita also hosted NAIA Men’s Wrestling National Championship, USA Boxing’s National Junior Olympics, The Basketball Tournament (TBT) Regionals and Quarterfinals and more.

The Local Organizing Committee and NWBA will work to develop and publish detailed fact sheets for the newly awarded events in a timely fashion to allow potential attendees and teams to plan accordingly. All updates will be published on the NWBA website at www.nwba.org and distributed to NWBA registered teams.