Carlee

Hoffman-Schwarz

Quick Facts

• Carlee Hoffman-Schwarz has been a basketball fanatic for as long as she can remember. However, when she was three years old, her love for the game was tested when she was injured in a lawn mower accident, resulting in the loss of both of her legs

• While in high school, Hoffman-Schwarz was introduced to wheelchair basketball and began playing for the Junior Pacers (Michigan). She was selected as an alternate for the 2003 U.S. Paralympics Women's Wheelchair Basketball National Team before making the team the following year. In Athens, Hoffman-Schwarz won a gold medal with the team. Four years later, Hoffman-Schwarz helped Team USA to another gold medal, scoring 10 points in the final game against Germany
• Hoffman-Schwarz also successfully qualified for the 2004 U.S. Paralympic Women's Sitting Volleyball Team but declined the offer so she could play basketball
• Inducted into the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame in 2014
• In addition to playing sports, Hoffman-Schwarz enjoys watching movies and hanging out with friends
• Inducted into the USOPC Hall of Fame, Class of 2025

Biographical Information

The U.S. women’s wheelchair basketball team won its first gold medal in 22 years at the Paralympic Games Athens 2004. Christina (Ripp) Schwab and Stephanie Wheeler went on to coach future national teams, Wheeler in 2016, and Schwab in 2024. Both are members of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association Hall of Fame. Six members of the 2004 team (Emily Hoskins, Patty Cisneros Prevo, Carlee Hoffman-Schwarz, Wheeler, Schwab, Jennifer Warkins) returned to win gold again at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, marking the first back-to-back titles for the program. In 2004, the U.S. defeated five-time defending champion Canada in the semifinal and avenged a narrow group-stage loss to Australia with a 56–44 victory in the gold-medal game, setting the stage for continued success in future Paralympic Games.

Paralympic Experience

• Two-time Paralympian; two-time Paralympic medalist (2 gold)
  • Paralympic Games Athens 2004, gold (Team - Women)
  • Paralympic Games Beijing 2008, gold (Team - Women)

Career Highlights

• 2010 IWBF Gold Cup (Birmingham, England), gold
• 2008 North American Cup (Birmingham, Ala.), First place
• 2008 Joseph F. Lyttle World Basketball Challenge (Warm Springs, Ga.), First Place
• 2008 NWBA Women's Division National Championship
• Parapan American Games Rio de Janeiro 2007, gold
• 2007 National Championship MVP, University of Illinois Wheelchair Basketball
• 2006 National Championship, University of Illinois Wheelchair Basketball
• 2006 IWBF Gold Cup (Amsterdam, The Netherlands), gold