TAMPA, Fla. — Like a choreographed dance, wheelchair basketball involves a lot of intricate moves and timing

That’s why the athletes at MacDill Air Force Base are practicing. They’re working hard to perfect their hoops moves.

What You Need To Know

  • The Department of Defense Warriors Games will be held at Disney's Wide World of Sports June 21-30

  • It's the second-straight year Disney has hosted the games, which pits branches of the military against each other in a variety of sports

  • U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Mario Webb tried out for the SOCOM wheelchair basketball team and said the camaraderie that comes from the competition is the best thing

U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Mario Webb began playing wheelchair basketball in 2018. He’s one of the few with years of experience on the court.

“You gotta put in the work,” Mario said. “Putting in the work makes it look natural.”

These service members are putting in the work now in hopes of making the SOCOM team for this summer’s Department of Defense Warrior Games. The competition pits military members against each other in various adaptive sports. It began in 2010 as a way to help in the recovery and rehabilitation of those wounded, ill or injured. The sports aspect gives them all the benefits of being on a team.

“That’s the best part of it,” Mario said. “The sports are cool. Trying something new is cool but meeting new people and seeing some of the guys that I’ve seen or followed on TV before from other games. That’s the best part to me.”

Mario wasn’t injured in combat. He’s what they call the invisible wounded. He made his way to the Warrior Games after he helped his son through a liver transplant. So many do suffer from actual combat injuries, while others, like Mario, suffer from wounds that can’t be seen.

“I got asked to do this about three times and I said no,” he said. “Finally, the liaison at the time was very persistent, and I bit the bullet. I came out here, and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”

That’s the goal of these games. Provide a haven for those who fight for our safety.

“I just really want them to get camaraderie of team,” Coach Keith Wallace said. “I want them to have fun. I want them to continue that brothership and that fellowship that they have that they learned from the military.”

Coach Wallace is admittedly not a hoops fan. Baseball is his sport. But he got into wheelchair basketball thanks to his grandmother, Estella. She suffered from diabetes and was a single leg amputee.

“She’s my hero,” he said. “She’s my guardian angel. She’s always putting me in the right spot at the right time to share my gift, share my gift with the world.”

And now these athletes are sharing their gifts. And putting themselves out there for their country, once again.