Emily

Hoskins

Quick Facts

• Was paraplegic from birth and has been involved with wheelchair basketball for much of her life
• Was a member of the St. Louis Rolling Rams through high school before attending the University of Illinois, where she was a part of the Fighting Illini squad that won four consecutive national championships
• Was a member of the team that won the gold medal at the Paralympic Games in Athens. In 2008, Hoskins was a starter in the gold medal game against Germany and helped Team USA complete its repeat
• Earned her bachelor's degree from Illinois in psychology and went to Murray State University for her master's degree
• 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 and 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 Beijing 2008, gold (Team - Women)
  • Paralympic Games Athens 2004, gold (Team - Women)

Career Highlights

• 2009 Osaka Cup All-Tournament Team
• 2008 National Wheelchair Basketball Association (Women's Division) - 2nd All-Tournament Team
• 2008 Osaka Cup, 1st Place
• Parapan American Games Rio 2007, gold
• 2007 National Wheelchair Basketball Association (Women's Division) - 2nd All-Tournament Team
• 2006 IWBF Gold Cup (World Championships) Amsterdam, The Netherlands, silver
• 2004 National Wheelchair Basketball Association Women's Most Improved Player