Women's Sitting Team Eyeing Three-peat at 2024 Paralympics

Paris, France (August 27, 2024) – Repeating as a Paralympic gold medalist is difficult by any measure; but winning back-to-back-to-back? That’s a feat that takes talent, determination and passion.

The U.S. Women’s Sitting National Team has all of that in spades. But, they also know that the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris will be just as tough to win, if not more so. Not only does rival China stand in the path to gold, but Brazil and Canada have continued to rise as contenders for the medal stand.

The U.S. Women have medaled in every Paralympic Games since women’s sitting was added to the slate in 2004. After winning bronze in Athens, they took silver in 2008 and silver again in London in 2016. The team finally broke through with a sweep over China for the gold at the 2016 Games in Rio, and followed it with gold over China again in Tokyo.

Paris Paralympics Hub | U.S. Women’s Sitting Team home

Eleven of the 12 athletes on the 2024 team are gold medalists, including six-time Paralympian Lora Webster and five-time Paralympians Katie Holloway Bridge and Heather Erickson. Kaleo Kanehele Maclay and Monique Matthews will play in their fourth Paralympics. Bethany Zummo and Lexi Shifflett-Patterson will play in their third Paralympics, and Whitney Dosty, Tia Edwards Nicky Nieves and Emma Schieck all return for their second Paralympics.

Zummo, one of seven team members going for her third straight gold medal, thinks the team’s longevity is a key factor in the quest to win a third gold medal.

“I honestly think that we have all of the things in us already to get a three-peat done,” she said. “The strength of our team is our connection and how long we’ve all been playing together. It’s a very unique environment to be in where I know exactly what my teammates’ strengths and weaknesses are. And we can support each other and be supported, as well on the court and off the court.”

Libero Sydney Satchell will make her Paralympics debut in Paris, and she’s ready for the challenge.

“When I close my eyes and dream, I’m literally living the dream,” she said. “I take great honor and pride on being trusted with the responsibility and honor to represent my country, represent God, my family, myself and ultimately my team. I don’t take it lightly.”

There will be no easing into the Games, as the team’s first match is against three-time Paralympic gold medalist and two-time silver medalist China at 3 a.m. PT on Aug. 30. China and the U.S. are the only two teams that have won gold in Paralympic women’s sitting volleyball. Most recently, the U.S. defeated China twice at the 2024 World ParaVolley Super 6 tournament.

“We know that what we do or what we have has worked in the past, but that doesn’t mean that it’s going to work again,” said Nieves, who was named as the Team USA flagbearer for the Opening Ceremony. “[We’re] just constantly looking at things that can be better; things that can be strengthened, and knowing that there’s a target on our back even more so than there has been before. Everybody’s gunning for us. Everybody plays lights out when they play us. We understand that we’re good, but we’re not complacent, and we’re always trying to strive to be better, show up and improve.”

Besides China (currently ranked fourth in the world), the U.S. pool includes France and Italy. France earned its bid as the host country, and Italy is ranked No. 7. The other pool includes world No. 1 Brazil, No. 2 Canada, No. 5 Rwanda and No. 6 Slovenia. The top two teams in each pool advance to the semifinals.

The U.S. is ranked third in the world, but the team did not compete in the 2023 World Cup in Egypt, allowing Brazil and Canada to move ahead. At June’s Super 6 tournament, considered a tune-up for the Paralympic Games, the U.S. defeated Brazil 3-1 and Canada 3-0.

The Paralympic Games open Aug. 28 with the Opening Ceremony, live on USA and Peacock at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT.

2024 U.S. Paralympic Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team

No., Name, Pos., Height, Hometown, USAV Region
1 Lora Webster-Bargellini (MB, 5-11, Point Lookout, N.Y., Garden Empire)
2 Bethany Zummo (L, 5-3, Dublin, Calif., Northern California)
3 Lexi Shifflett-Patterson (S/L, 5-4, Waseca, Minn., North Country)
5 Katie Holloway Bridge (OH, 6-3, Lake Stevens, Wash., Puget Sound)
6 Heather Erickson (OPP, 6-0, Fayetteville, N.C., Carolina)
7C Monique Matthews (MB/OH, 6-0, Ardmore, Okla., Oklahoma)
8 Whitney Dosty (OH/OPP, 6-3, Tucson, Ariz., Arizona)
9 Tia Edwards (OH/MB, 5-7, Skiatook, Okla., Oklahoma)
10 Sydney Satchell (L, 5-2, Windsor, Conn., New England)
12 Emma Schieck (OH, 5-7, Statesville, N.C., Carolina)
14 Kaleo Kanahele Maclay (S, 5-6, Oklahoma City, Okla., Oklahoma)
16 Nicky Nieves (MB/OH, 5-10, Kissimmee, Fla., Florida)

Alternates
18 Courtney Baker (OH, 5-9, Crofton, Ky., Pioneer)
22 MaKenzie Franklin (OH, 6-0, Red Wing, Minn., North Country)
24 Raelene Elam (OH, 6-1, St. George, Utah, Northern California)

Head Coach: Bill Hamiter
Assistant Coaches: Leo Filho, Michelle Goodall
Team Leader: Patrick Lawrence
Athletic Trainer: Kat King
Performance Analyst: Jeffery Hicks
Team Psychologist: Adam O’Neil
Athletic Performance Coach: Bobby Moore
Dietitian: Jacque Scaramella

U.S. Women’s Schedule for the 2024 Paralympic Games

Aug. 30: USA vs. China, 12 p.m. Paris time/3 a.m. Pacific time (watch on Peacock)
Sept. 1: USA vs. France, 8 p.m. Paris time/11 a.m. Pacific time (watch on Peacock)
Sept. 3: USA vs. Italy, 2 p.m. Paris time/5 a.m. Pacific time (USA and Peacock)
Sept. 4: Classification matches for 5th/6th and 7th/8th places
Sept. 5: Semifinals (Peacock)
Sept. 7: Medal matches (CNBC and Peacock)