WNBA Dallas Wings players spent time with female wheelchair athletes on Monday to share advice, sign autographs and, of course, shoot hoops.
About 35 young women from all over the country are participating in the annual All Girls Wheelchair Basketball Camp at the University of Texas at Arlington.
The Wings settled into wheelchairs of their own to play a few rounds with the campers. Forward Theresa Plaisance said playing with the girls was fun and challenging. Her message to young women aspiring to become professional athletes is to work hard and persevere despite the naysayers.
"It was a good time to come out and show our support," Plaisance said. "They're the best in the nation, so why not come spend time with the best in the nation?"
Some of the girls in attendance, who were mainly teenagers, had dreams of becoming professional athletes. This dream is alive for Ixhelt Gonzalez, an eighth grader from Chicago, who said the camp is her favorite because it helps her improve her skills and have fun. She also said the camp gives her opportunities to bond with other young women.
"It's a great opportunity just to play with women, that they understand you as a basketball player and a person, on and off the court," Gonzalez said.
UTA's wheelchair basketball teams the Movin' Mavs and Lady Movin' Mavs are national competitors, which makes UTA a premier university for wheelchair basketball.
Lady Movin' Mavs point guard Morgan Wood said they hope to continue improving and growing the camp for young female wheelchair basketball players.
"We want to build up these girls so that one day they can be college athletes or professional athletes in wheelchair basketball," Wood said. "There's nothing like this in the world."
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