Young athletes persevere in Native American Basketball Invitational events, hosted by Ak-Chin Indian Community

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The Native American Basketball Invitational (NABI) tournament featured competition, athleticism, and sportsmanship during events held in the Ak-Chin Indian Community, Maricopa, Az and downtown Phoenix, Az.

The Ft. McDowell Yavapai Nation team from Arizona topped the boys’ Gold division

Each year, NABI showcases top high school athletes and teams from Native American and indigenous youth. Players come from around the United States, Canada and even New Zealand. Each year, NABI selects 64 boys’ teams and 64 girls’ teams to compete. Teams are divided into Silver and Gold divisions to level the competition.

Red Storm, an intertribal team from California, bested the Boys’ Silver Division

This year, the Shooting Stars from Florida topped the Girls Silver Division. This team represents Comanche, Muskogee Creek, Seminole and Winnebago tribes. In the Boys Silver Division, Red Storm, an intertribal team from California, took the boys’ silver championship.

NM Elite earned first place in the Girls’ Gold Division

Taking first place in the Boys Gold Division was the Ft. McDowell Yavapai Nation team from Arizona. In the Girls Gold Division, the New Mexico Elite took the top spot. This team has players from the San Felipe, Pueblo, Cochiti Pueblo, Laguna Pueblo, Sioux, Navajo and Samoan tribes.

The Shooting Stars from Florida earned the top place in the Girls’ Silver Division

Every game kept the audience on the edge of their seats. Athletes played their hearts out and represented sportsmanship at its best. Fans from all over the country packed the stands during the playoff games at host gyms in Maricopa and the championship games held June 29 at the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix. The Phoenix Suns Gorilla and the Phoenix Mercury “Scorch” mascot also made appearances during the playoff games, as special guests.

While NABI offers nail-biting competition, the event isn’t only about basketball. Participants attend a college and career fair before the games begin, and top student-athletes receive recognition at the awards ceremony.

Moreover, the Junior NABI basketball camp coaches’ younger players who are graduating from 8th grade, and the players present an exhibition game. The Native-American all-stars performed cheerleading and acrobatics during game breaks.

A national organization, the NABI Foundation, supports Native-American youth through programs that encourage higher education, sports, health, and community building. Congratulations to this year’s tournament winners!

Carolyn Sostrom

Carolyn Sostrom is a long-time Arizona resident who loves desert sunsets, warm weather, Zumba, and the Western lifestyle. She attended Saguaro High School in Scottsdale and then Arizona State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Similarly to the protagonist in *The Devil Wears Prada*, Carolyn moved to New York City right after college. She started working for the fashion magazine company Conde Nast but never transitioned to the dark side. After a few years, she left New York in the rearview mirror and returned to her home state, taking a reporter job at the *Apache Junction Independent*. With over 30 years of freelance writing experience, Carolyn especially enjoys writing about community events and profiling individuals who are making a difference in their communities. She had the pleasure of interviewing a variety of cowboy personalities for an article she wrote for the *Scottsdale Independent* about the history of DC Ranch and its roots as a working ranch. Now, her Western adventures with CLN have her diving into the rugged automotive scene, exploring the trucks and rigs cowboys rely on for work, home, and play, a niche where grit meets horsepower. She works at Raising Special Kids, a nonprofit resource center for families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. Carolyn also volunteers with the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix. Carolyn believes that everyone has a story, and she loves connecting with others to hear their stories. She’s dedicated to ethical journalism and accurate reporting, which shines through in her storytelling.