Special Olympics North Carolina takes silver medal in 3×3 Basketball Tournament

Caryn Little,

A Special Olympics North Carolina team brought home a silver medal in their division in the 2025 Special Olympics North America Unified Womenโ€™s 3×3 Basketball Tournament earlier this month.

Ten teams of Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners from the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean competed in the tournament.ย ย Unified competition allows individuals with intellectual disabilities, Special Olympics athletes, and individuals without intellectual disabilities, Unified partners, to train and compete together.

Special Olympics North Carolinaโ€™s team included:

  • Gabi Angelini, Wake County, athlete
  • Elli Baumann, Durham County, Unified partner
  • Clare Feole, Orange County, athlete
  • Loranda Quicksey-Mills, Lee County, athlete
  • Takiyah Rustin, Cabarrus County, Unified partner
  • Kayla Crayton, Cabarrus County, coach

“This team doesnโ€™t give up, stop or slow down. They gave it everything they had for the whole tournament,โ€ said coach Crayton.

The event was held on Aug. 6ย  in Indianapolis, Indiana in partnership with Pacers Sports & Entertainment and the Indiana Fever.