Richmond to Host 2025 Wheelchair Basketball Nationals
Championships Return to State-of-the-Art Henrico Sports & Event Center
RICHMOND, Va—(March 11, 2025)—For the second consecutive year, Richmond will host the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) Adult and Junior Division Wheelchair Basketball National Championships. The championships will take place over the first two weekends in April at the Henrico Sports & Event Center in Henrico, Virginia. The event returns to the region after a successful 2024 tournament.
“We are thrilled to bring these championships back to Richmond in 2025,” said Matt Pierre, President of the NWBA Board of Directors and a National Tournaments Evaluation Team representative. “Last year, the city and its partners set a new standard for excellence, and we’re eager to build on that success with an even more remarkable event in 2025.”
“The NWBA’s continued trust in Richmond speaks volumes,” said Hunter Leemon, CEO of Sportable. “After an unforgettable 2024 tournament, we can’t wait to showcase our world-class facilities and passionate community to athletes, families, and fans.”
The nation’s top 16 ranked teams in each Adult Division (I, II, III) and the top 36 varsity and 20 prep teams will compete for a national title. In total, 104 teams and more than 1,200 athletes will take the court at Henrico Sports & Event Center, which opened in 2023. The venue features 115,000 square feet of event space and 12 basketball courts.
Beyond the prestige of hosting the National Wheelchair Basketball Championships, the event delivers a major economic boost to the Richmond region. According to the tourism industry’s Destination International Event Impact Calculator Model, the 2024 tournament generated more than $1.1 million in direct tourism spending — about $672,000 from the junior event and $455,000 from the adult event.
“It is evident that the National Wheelchair Basketball Championships contributed to the economic growth of our region,” said Jerrine Lee, vice president of sales for Richmond Region Tourism. “The tournament had a positive economic impact and added to our appeal as a premier destination for sporting events for everyone.”
“We are excited to once again welcome the NWBA and its athletes to our state-of-the-art facility,” said Dennis Bickmeier, executive director of the Henrico Sports & Entertainment Authority. “Hosting this tournament for the second year in a row reinforces Richmond’s reputation as a premier destination for adaptive sports, and we look forward to another incredible display of athleticism and competition.”