Brotherhood and Basketball: Shaun Ridley’s Journey to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games

Before every game, Shaun Ridley settles into his practice routine—bank shots off the glass, layups at the rim, and a quiet moment to lock in before tipoff.

That focus is now carrying him to the national stage. This June, he’ll represent Maryland in unified basketball at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games.

For Ridley, the sport has become much more than basketball. It’s given him some of his closest friendships.

“This team—they’re my best buddies,” Ridley said.

About Unified Basketball

Unified basketball is a Special Olympics sport where players with and without intellectual disabilities compete together on the same team.

Athletes are joined by unified partners—teammates without disabilities— who guide and motivate them throughout the game.

Louis Scott, one of Ridley’s unified teammates, started playing with the Special Olympics eleven years ago. He initially joined to give back to his local community but quickly realized he was gaining just as much as he was offering.

“They’ve helped me a lot,” Scott said. “—how to carry myself, be a part of a team, be encouraging, how to act when you lose, and how to act when you win....”

Scott describes Ridley as one of the most passionate players on the team, even if he’s not always the loudest voice on the court.

“He’s a great player, but he’s also very competitive,” said Scott of Ridley. “He’s quiet, so I don’t think people get that unless you’re on the court with him or see him play.”

That mindset helped shape one of the team’s favorite memories. They traveled to the University of Maryland recently to compete in a tournament at the XFINITY Center, and returned home celebrating a first-place finish.

But the lessons have not only come through victories. Ridley says basketball has also taught him about defeat.

“If we lose, I just say ‘I can’t win first place all the time’,” he said. “You can’t win them all and sometimes you have to let someone else.”

Entering the Big Stage

For Ridley, stepping onto a major court felt surreal because it reminded him of the games he had spent years watching on television.

“It was really amazing to play on an actual basketball court because I see basketball players at the college level do it every night!” Ridley said.

Now, Ridley, Scott, and the rest of the team are preparing to compete on another big stage as they prep for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games.

For Scott, he hopes their team can inspire others to join unified sports programs and discover the same sense of connection they found.

“It’s a great community and something I want to continue doing,” he said. “It’s been life-changing for me and I think it could be life-changing for other people as well."

As for Ridley, he’s continuing to practice his bank shots ahead of Minnesota. Around his teammates, though, his quiet demeanor starts to fade. Before practice, he turns to Scott:

“It’s really good to have someone like you by my side.”

FanDuel is proud to sponsor the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games and share the stories of athletes like Shaun.