What Wisconsin Adaptive Sports Association does

Wisconsin Adaptive Sports Association (WASA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Brookfield, Wisconsin, founded in 2015. WASA provides adaptive sports programming for people with physical disabilities and visual impairments across a portfolio that includes wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, wheelchair lacrosse, sled hockey, pickleball, tennis, and goalball. The organization operates what it describes as the largest wheelchair basketball program in the United States, with 70+ athletes on the roster, and has produced 11 athletes for Team USA's 2024 Paralympic contingent.

WASA's revenue mix combines modest participant fees with corporate/philanthropic grants and fundraising events. Annual membership is $50; competitive sport fees are $200 for the first sport and $100 for each additional sport, with veterans participating free of charge. Implied per-athlete program cost is approximately $3,500 per year. Named institutional funding includes a $75,000 Dick's Sporting Goods grant (2023) and a $50,000 grant from The Hartford (2026-05-15), alongside smaller events such as a 2025 bowling fundraiser that generated $5,393. Headcount is reported at 1–10 employees.

The organization is embedded in a regional adaptive sports ecosystem that includes Marquette University, the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), Paralyzed Veterans of America, Wounded Warrior Project, and the Challenged Athletes of Kentucky Recreation Initiative (CKRI), with research engagement involving Streeter Lab. WASA runs multi-state tournaments such as the Big Cheese Wheelchair Basketball Tournament, which draws participants from 6–7 states, and has recently extended programming with pickleball (2023), the HeroFit / Operation Deep Health veteran-focused initiative (2023), and the Game On Adaptive Sports Camp (2026).

Name

Wisconsin Adaptive Sports Association

Legal name

Wisconsin Adaptive Sports Association, Inc.

Website

https://wasa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adaptive Sports and Recreation

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adaptive & Para-Sport Event Organizers (MPAKADAM), Adaptive & Para-Sport Coaching (HSADAEAM), Adaptive & Para-Sport Training Programs (MPAKAJAK)

Keywords

• Adaptive sports programs
• Wheelchair basketball
• Veteran disability services
• Paralympic athlete training
• Community recreation

Headquarters

HQ city

Brookfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: WASA relies heavily on charitable donations from individuals and organizations. The organization runs fundraising events including bowling fundraisers, the WASA 400 endurance event, and apparel flash sales.
2. Grants and Foundations: WASA receives grant funding from organizations such as Dick's Sporting Goods ($75,000 grant), Waukesha Community Foundation, and Bader Philanthropies to support programs and equipment.
3. Membership Fees: Annual athlete membership of $50 plus competitive program fees of $200 for first sport and $100 for additional sports. Veterans receive free registration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Wisconsin Adaptive Sports Association (WASA) delivers adaptive sports, recreation, fitness, and education programs for individuals with physical disabilities and visual impairments. Offerings include wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, wheelchair lacrosse (Milwaukee Eagles), sled hockey, adaptive pickleball, and adaptive tennis, supported by Try-It introductory programs, recreational leagues, competitive teams, and veterans-specific programs such as HeroFit: Operation Deep Health.

Product overview

Wisconsin Adaptive Sports Association (WASA) is Wisconsin's largest adaptive sports organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of adaptive sport programs. The core offerings include wheelchair basketball (the largest program in the country with 70+ athletes), wheelchair rugby, wheelchair lacrosse (Milwaukee Eagles - 3x WLUSA National Champions), sled hockey, adaptive pickleball, and adaptive tennis. WASA provides a multi-tiered approach from Try-It introductory programs for beginners through competitive team participation, including Paralympic-level training. Additional programs include the Game On Adaptive Sports Camp for youth ages 6-21, Back in the Game SCI recovery support, HeroFit Operation Deep Health for veterans, and the Big Cheese tournament series. Veterans receive free registration for all programs, and the organization operates year-round with both recreational and competitive pathways across all sports.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wheelchair Basketball

Quantifiable outcome

• 3 consecutive National Wheelchair Lacrosse Championships (2023, 2024, 2025)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Marquette University Men's LacrossecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Marquette men's lacrosse team provides coaching support and facilities for the Milwaukee Eagles wheelchair lacrosse team. The partnership began in 2016 when Dr. Kenneth Lee approached the lacrosse program. Student-athletes volunteer as coaches and mentors. WASA wheelchair basketball and lacrosse teams wear Marquette jerseys.
• Wounded Warrior ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to host adaptive sports clinics for injured veterans. Wounded Warrior Project collaborates with WASA to provide multi-day adaptive sports experiences including wheelchair rugby, lacrosse, and sled hockey at MSOE facilities.
• Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWASA works with Milwaukee Public Schools for youth programs including the all-female prep basketball team. Board member Matt Goodwin serves as MPS Commissioner of Athletics and Academics.
• Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute (CKRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint team WASA/CKRI Lightning competes in wheelchair rugby. CKRI provides rehabilitation expertise and athlete pipeline for the competitive rugby program.
• Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSOE men's hockey team provides hands-on support for WASA sled hockey programs and adaptive sports clinics. MSOE Kern Center hosts the Game On Adaptive Sports Camp.
• Journey21minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Journey21 (supports individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities) for Jingle and Roll holiday event combining adaptive sports with crafts and social activities.
• Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPVA sponsors wheelchair rugby tournaments including the annual tournament in Louisville. PVA's 1st annual Pickleball Tournament hosted by WASA features multi-division play for wheelchair athletes.
• Kunes Auto GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKunes Auto Group is a proud supporter providing adaptive vehicle solutions. WASA's Jordan Wilkins appeared on Kunes Car Convos to discuss adaptive sports and mobility.
• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) PanthersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUWM Panther basketball players co-host Try-It events with WASA, introducing wheelchair basketball to the community.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Paralyzed Veterans of America: National veterans service organization that sponsors wheelchair rugby and pickleball tournaments in partnership with WASA (PVA 1st Annual Pickleball Tournament), operates its own adaptive sports programs, and serves the same veteran with disabilities population as WASA's HeroFit and free veteran registration programs.
• Move United: National umbrella organization for adaptive sports in the US (formerly Disabled Sports USA), supporting a network of community-based adaptive sports programs including wheelchair basketball, lacrosse, and veterans programs that directly overlap with WASA's mission and member club offerings.
• National Wheelchair Basketball Association: National governing body for wheelchair basketball in the US, of which WASA's championship teams are members, providing the competitive league structure, national championships, and Team USA Paralympic pipeline that WASA's elite athletes leverage.

Direct peers

• Lakeshore Foundation: Birmingham, AL-based nonprofit offering adaptive sports, recreation, and fitness programs for people with disabilities, including wheelchair basketball, rugby, tennis, and a Paralympic Training Program, mirroring WASA's multi-sport nonprofit structure and competitive pipeline focus.
• Turnstone Center for Children and Adults with Disabilities: Fort Wayne, IN-based nonprofit providing adaptive sports, recreation, and rehabilitation programs including wheelchair basketball, rugby, sled hockey, and tennis to individuals with disabilities, with a comparable membership/registration model and competitive team structure as WASA.
• BlazeSports America: Atlanta, GA-based nonprofit that operates adaptive sport programs and clinics for veterans and youth with disabilities, including wheelchair basketball, rugby, and track, with a similar veterans and youth focus as WASA's HeroFit and Game On programs.
• National Ability Center: Park City, UT-based nonprofit offering year-round adaptive sports programming in skiing, cycling, equestrian, rafting, and court sports for individuals with disabilities, with a similar recreation-to-competitive pathway model and Paralympic athlete development pipeline as WASA.
• Ability360: Phoenix, AZ-based nonprofit providing adaptive sports, recreation, advocacy, and disability services including wheelchair rugby, basketball, swimming, and tennis programs, with a comparable multi-sport nonprofit structure and competitive team offerings as WASA.
• Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute: Minneapolis-based adaptive sports and rehabilitation provider that co-fields the WASA/CKRI Lightning wheelchair rugby team with WASA, and offers broader adaptive sports programming across Minnesota, providing a direct partnership and operational comparison to WASA's program model.

Emerging players

• Achilles International: Nonprofit that enables athletes with disabilities to participate in endurance events including running, triathlon, and handcycling, with comparable volunteer-coach-led model and free programming for participants, though focused on endurance rather than team court sports like WASA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/wisconsinadaptivesports
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wisconsin-adaptive-sports-association-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wisconsin Adaptive Sports Association