According to the National Wheelchair Basketball Association wheelchair basketball began after World War II veterans returned and were being treated for paralysis in various hospitals all over the country. The game started off with men in wheelchairs against able body doctors in hospitals. Eventually teams were able to travel, meet up and play wheelchair versus wheelchair. The hospitals they began in were Veteran Administration hospitals and the first organization to organize tournaments was the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

            By 1948 the National Wheelchair Basketball Association was created by Tim Nugent. Tim Nugent was also responsible for the first Nation Wheelchair Basketball Tournament. The Veterans Administration teams and the NWBA eventually came together made the sport the most popular for those with disabilities. Eventually women’s wheelchair basketball came to surface through the University of Illinois after it hosted the first recorded woman’s wheelchair basketball game.

            The USA now has over 200 teams that play and are considered part of USA Basketball. The United States shaped a sport that has now grown world wide. Teams compete at the Paralympics. A goal and dream for many Mizzou Wheelchair Basketball players is to go to the Paralympics and compete on their country’s team.