CHENEY, Wash. – Eastern Washington University (EWU) has announced it will discontinue its adaptive athletics program at the end of the 2025-26 season.
The men’s wheelchair basketball team will compete in its final tournament at the 2026 National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball National Championships in Tucson, Arizona, in early April.
Founded in 2019, the EWU wheelchair basketball team was the first of its kind in the Northwest. Initially funded by grants and donations, the team later received support from the EWU College of Health Science and Public Health.
Head Coach David Evjen expressed disappointment, noting the team’s uniqueness as one of only 12 in the country. “Now, with us leaving, there’s only 11, because it’s so unique. That’s pretty saddening in a nutshell,” he said.
Dean Dawn Lewis-Kinnunen of the College of Health Science and Public Health highlighted the financial challenges, stating, “This decision reflects long-term sustainability challenges in a budget-tightening environment.”
The university plans to continue supporting adaptive student-athletes during their academic careers despite the program’s closure.
The remaining funds within the program’s budget will be used to provide scholarships for student-athletes who continue their education at EWU.
The decision has left team members feeling undervalued. Jeffer Ward wrote, “Actions speak louder than words, and their actions say we are not valued here at EWU.”
