Hijab-wearing athlete joins wheelchair basketball league
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Reema El Qassem, a 35-year-old woman from Australia, is the first non-verbal and hijab-wearing athlete to play in the Women’s National Wheelchair Basketball League.
El Qassem began playing after receiving a diagnosis of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) in 2023, a condition that affects the brain and nervous system, causing speech and mobility difficulties. She found that playing wheelchair basketball helped her feel like an athlete again after spending 320 days in the hospital and adjusting to using a wheelchair.
El Qassem plays for the Sydney Uni Lions, who reached the national league play-offs in both 2025 and 2026. Her team and the wider Wheelchair Sports NSW community have embraced her faith and disability, supporting her needs such as prayer times and adapting to her non-verbal communication. They are currently exploring ways to improve communication during games, as she uses a phone app that can be difficult to use amidst the noise.
Beyond her athletic achievements, El Qassem is a single mother of four daughters, some with additional needs. She hopes to show her children and other Muslim women with disabilities that they can participate in sports and that their identities are welcome. Despite facing challenges getting classified for international competition due to her condition not fitting existing eligibility requirements, El Qassem continues to play and inspire others.
