At the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, wheelchair rugby is witnessing a significant increase in female participation. Sarah Adam made history as the first woman to compete for the USA’s wheelchair rugby team, facing Japan’s Kae Kurahashi, who also made her mark at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

– **Match Outcome**: Japan triumphed over the USA in a tight match, 45-42.
– **Key Players**: Adam scored 9 tries, while team captain Chuck Aoki contributed 19.
– **Aoki’s Insight**: Aoki praised Adam’s performance and emphasized the need for better composure to secure victory.

Adam expressed her excitement about competing in front of her family but noted their nervousness, especially her mother, who worries about the contact nature of the sport.

**Growing Women’s Participation**:
– Women’s involvement in wheelchair rugby is increasing, with Australia fielding three women on their team and a rise in female players across other countries.
– Adam highlighted the camaraderie among women in the sport, noting a strong support network off the court while maintaining fierce competition during gameplay.

This trend reflects a larger increase in female representation in Para sports, as evidenced by a record participation at the 2022 World Championship.

Overall, the event signals a promising future for women’s wheelchair rugby, building on progress seen since Tokyo 2020.