In March, Marie over at the Sports, Society and Media blog wrote the following:

The Washington Post Friday ran a front-page article about U.S. war vets who are trying out for the Paralympic team. As the article points out, more than a dozen vets are vying for a spot on the U.S. team.

Traditionally, the Paralympics have been ignored by the U.S. press, and a quick check on Google News shows that most coverage this year has been in overseas media. But the fact that U.S. military members will represent the U.S. in a new way -- in an international sporting competition -- could help bring the Paralympics the media attention it deserves.

It'll be interesting to see if her hope is borne out.

You can keep up on the Paralympic games through the official site and various multiplatform broadcasts via Universal Sports. Opening Ceremonies: Sept. 6th.

More than 200 U.S. athletes will compete in 18 sports during the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing. Results, updates and recaps will be posted here.

There are 10 women's teams playing wheelchair basketball, and the competition begins the 8th. The US roster:

Sarah Castle (Champaign, Ill./Centennial, Colo.) -
Patty Cisneros (Champaign, Ill./Lake Station, Ind.)
Loraine Gonzales (Ft. Worth, Texas)
Carlee Hoffman (Champaign, Ill./Cutlerville, Mich.)
Emily Hoskins (Murray, Ky./Mascoutah, Ill.)
Mary Alison Milford (Tuscaloosa, Ala./Magnolia, Ark.)
Becca Murray (Germantown, Wis.)
Alana Nichols (Tuscaloosa, Ala./Farmington, N.M.)
Christina Ripp (Littleton, Colo./Dane, Wis.)
Jennifer Ruddell (Champaign, Ill.)
Natalie Schneider (Lincoln, Neb.)
Stephanie Wheeler (Tuscaloosa, Ala./Norlina, N.C.)

The US team, gold medalists in Athens, was named the USOC Team of the Month in July.

"Our team has worked hard all summer and we came ready to play physically, mentally, and spiritually," said Ruddell. "Being named Team of the Month for June is certainly a great morale boost for our team going into Beijing. Hopefully we can improve and build on those tournaments to bring home the gold."

Three-time Paralympian Patty Cisneros (Champaign, Ill./Lake Station, Ind.) has been selected as a finalist for the Women's Sports Foundation's Sportswoman of the Year award. In September 2007, she accepted an offer to become head coach of the University of Illinois' Women's Wheelchair Basketball Team and led the team to a national championship in her first season.

Illinois is a powerhouse in women's wheelchair. Why? Becuase the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois has a Division of Disablity Resources and Educational Services with a long history in adapted athletics.

The 2008 National Women's Wheelchair Basketball Tournament was held at the U of I this past March and featured the following teams:

University of Illinois
Phoenix Banner Mercury
University of Alabama
University of Arizona
RIC Chicago Sky (yes, that Chicago Sky)
Dallas Lady Mavericks
United Spinal Liberty (yes, that Liberty)
Steel City Starz
Denver Lady Rollin' Nuggets
PossAbilities Lady Warriors
Bennet Blazers
Shepherd Lady Stealers

No surprise, it's tough to find coverage (or easily accessed websites) for the teams, but you can go to the National Wheelchair Basketball Association for information. Check out their Women's History page.