COLORADO SPRINGS, CO. – For the first time since 2019, the University of Illinois will host the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) Men’s and Women’s Intercollegiate Division National Championships. Approved by the NWBA Board of Directors, the 2025 National Tournaments will be played at the State Farm Center, with competition beginning on Tuesday, March 25 and concluding with the national championship games on Saturday, March 29.  

“The University of Illinois is excited to be hosting the 2025 men’s and women’s national championships,” said Illinois Coordinator for the Office of Student Life, Maureen Gilbert. “Bringing the tournament back to Illinois, where the first collegiate wheelchair basketball teams were started as well as the NWBA, is a historic moment for us and to host both championships will be an honor.” 

“We look forward to the 2025 intercollegiate championships being in Illinois,” said Intercollegiate Division Commissioner, Kelly Fischbach. “They did a fantastic job hosting the NIWBT in 2019 in a great environment. It will also be the first time in a few years that the men and women will be at the same host site.” 

 On the women’s side, the University of Alabama will look to successfully defend its national title for a fifth consecutive season. On the men’s side the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will look to defend its national bragging rights after winning the championship for the first time since 2016.  

“This will be my first season serving as President of the Intercollegiate Division, and to have the Men’s and Women’s National Championships hosted at my alma mater, the University of Illinois, truly fills me with pride,” said Intercollegiate President, Gus Lease.  “Good luck to all the teams competing and I cannot wait to see the action on the courts! 
 
The NWBA Intercollegiate Division Wheelchair Basketball National Championships features the top collegiate wheelchair basketball teams in the nation. For the 2023-24 season the NWBA Intercollegiate Division was represented by 12 colleges; and a total of eleven Men’s teams and six Women’s teams.