Jennifer Ruddell

Sport: Wheelchair Basketball
Residence: Champaign, IL

Jennifer Ruddell has had an amazing career in wheelchair basketball. Jennifer began playing wheelchair basketball in the fall of 2001 at the University of Illinois. During her college athletic career, she won a number of individual and team awards including the 2004 University of Illinois Student Athlete of the Year, 2005 & 2006 University of Illinois MVP, and four team wheelchair basketball national championships (2002, 2003, 2004, and 2006).

In 2002, she joined the USA women’s wheelchair basketball team while also competing at the college level. In 2004, the USA women’s basketball team won a gold medal at the Paralympic games in Athens, Greece. Also in 2004, Jennifer graduated from the University of Illinois with a PhD in Sports Management with an emphasis in Disability Sport.

In December 2005, Jennifer became the first woman to play in the Men's Division I of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association. Jennifer started all 12 games and averaged 15.3 points and 4.4 rebounds, per game. This past summer, Jennifer helped the U.S. to a silver medal at the Wheelchair Basketball World Championships.

Jennifer currently resides in Champaign, IL with her husband, Ben, and works full time at the University of Illinois as a Visiting Disability Specialist. She also plays for the Denver Nuggets and the Phoenix Mercury women’s wheelchair basketball teams. Her motto is “Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth” – 1 John 3:18. Jennifer feels it is important to be a role model for youth as well as teammates in every aspect of life.

In addition to her career, training and competition schedule, Jennifer is working with The Hartford, founding sponsor of U.S. Paralympics®, to help positively change public attitudes and awareness toward disability.