Jennifer Ruddell

Jennifer "Jen" Leigh Ruddell (née Warkins, born February 4, 1978) is an American wheelchair basketball player and Paralympian. She won two gold medals as a member of the Team USA’s Women’s Wheelchair Basketball team at the 2004 and 2008 Paralympic Games and a gold medal at the 2007 Parapan American Games.

Biography

Ruddell was born February 4, 1978 in Lincolnshire, Illinois.[1] She was educated at Stevenson High School outside Chicago, where she played for the varsity basketball,[2] volleyball and softball teams.[1][3] She was scouted by college recruiters, but suffered three ligament tears on the same knee.[3][4]

After discovering that her injury made her eligible to play wheelchair basketball, Ruddell began playing on the University of Illinois women's team.[3] She played in five consecutive national championship games from 2002 to 2006.[5][6][7] Ruddell graduated from the University of Illinois with a PhD in Leisure Studies with a focus in Disability Sport.[1]

At the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, Greece, Ruddell was a member of Team USA’s gold medal winning Women’s Wheelchair Basketball team.[1][8] The team beat five-time defending champions Team Canada in the final match,[9][10] where Ruddell scored 21 points, 15 rebounds and six steals.[10][11] The team beat Japan 70-33 in the semi-final match.[12] After the 2004 Athens games, Ruddell moved to Spain to play professional wheelchair basketball for three months.[3] She was also named the University of Illinois Student Athlete of the Year.[7]

At the 2007 Parapan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Ruddell helped lead Team US to win the gold medal at the games.[7]

At the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China, Ruddell was the co-captain of Team USA’s gold medal winning Women’s Wheelchair Basketball team.[1][13][14] She was honoured alongside her team in Washington D.C.[15]

Ruddell was not called up to the Team USA Women’s Wheelchair Basketball starting team for the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, England, but was a reserve if other plays could not participate or suffered injury.[16]

In 2016, Ruddell coached the Arizona State University Wheelchair Basketball Team.[17]

In 2018, Ruddell was playing for Arizona Storm Women’s Wheelchair Basketball team and competed at the 2018 National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) National Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Tournament (NWWBT).[18]

In 2021, Ruddell was inducted into the NWBA Intercollegiate Division Hall of Fame.[19] In 2025, Ruddell was also inducted into the Paralympic Hall Of Fame with the 2004 Women’s Wheelchair Basketball team.[1][20]

Ruddell has worked as a part-time faculty member at Parkland College.[21] As of 2025, Ruddell works as head of school at Flagstaff Christian School in Arizona.[20]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Jennifer Rudell - Paralympic Wheelchair Basketball". Team USA. September 6, 2024. Archived from the original on May 12, 2025. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  2. ^ "Lincolnshire Stevenson". Basketball Museum of Illinois. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d George, Joshua (May 9, 2005). "Injured athlete takes different path". The Daily Illini. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  4. ^ "Illinois true pioneer of wheelchair hoops". Butler Eagle Sports. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  5. ^ "Illini Adapted Athletics History – Disability Resources and Educational Services". Archived from the original on June 15, 2025. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  6. ^ "Hot skills & real thrills". Paraplegia News (PN). June 1, 2005. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  7. ^ a b c "Jennifer Ruddell Paralympian 2008". Team USA. September 6, 2024. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  8. ^ "Jennifer Warkins - Wheelchair Basketball | Paralympic Athlete Profile". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  9. ^ Giles, Stacy (June 20, 2025). "2004 U.S. Women's Wheelchair Basketball Team | 2025 U.S. Hall of Fame Inductee". United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum. Archived from the original on June 21, 2025. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  10. ^ a b Gluskin, Jon (October 6, 2004). "Led by Illini, U.S. women take gold in wheelchair b-ball". The Daily Illini. Archived from the original on February 20, 2025. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  11. ^ "U.S. women win in Paralympic basketball". Chicago Tribune. September 28, 2004. Archived from the original on June 26, 2025. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  12. ^ "Orange & blue paralympians". Chicago Tribune. September 24, 2004. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  13. ^ "Shorter professor to compete in Beijing". Northwest Georgia News. August 12, 2008. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  14. ^ "Former Illini good as gold". The News-Gazette. September 28, 2004. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  15. ^ Update, Sports (October 2, 2008). "Ruddell among Paralympic athletes to be honored in Washington". Northwest Georgia News. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  16. ^ "USA Names Women's Wheelchair Basketball Team for London 2012". International Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on December 16, 2024. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  17. ^ Demarest, Kaci (January 7, 2016). "ASU Introduces Wheelchair Basketball Team". Ability360 | Phoenix, AZ. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  18. ^ Zolfaghari, Pasha (March 14, 2018). "2018 National Women's Wheelchair Basketball Tournament Preview". National Wheelchair Basketball Association. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  19. ^ "Warkins Ruddell inducted into NWBA Intercollegiate Division Hall of Fame". Arizona Daily Sun. December 22, 2021. Archived from the original on December 28, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  20. ^ a b KAFF News (July 17, 2025). Flagstaff's Dr. Ruddell Inducted Into Paralympic Hall Of Fame | KAFF News Extra. Retrieved August 11, 2025 – via YouTube.
  21. ^ "Details for Olympic Tribute ceremony". The News-Gazette. July 2, 2010. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
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