Mackenzie Soldan

Mackenzie was the Marketing Manager at Angel City Sports the last 3 years and is a two-time Paralympian, wheelchair tennis in London (2012) and wheelchair basketball in Rio (2016). In addition, she also won two medals at the 2011 Parapan American Games in wheelchair tennis. To say she is talented on and off the court is an understatement. 

When asked about the power of adaptive sports, Mackenzie shares, “Sports are important because they don’t just take place on a court, field, or track; they have an impact on every aspect of life, especially for someone with a disability. They serve as a social outlet where people do not scrutinize you and ask, “What happened?” before even asking your name. Sports provide a safe space to learn from each other, fostering confidence, discipline, and teamwork. They’re a tool to build physical strength to be able to achieve daily activities more easily in a very inaccessible world. Sports can act as a catalyst for education and job opportunities, opening the world for people with disabilities. 

Mackenzie was able to see her first Angel City Games in 2021 and was astounded at the number of people in the community who had never seen or experienced sport that was accessible to them. “It’s amazing to witness people’s first moments realizing that they can play and compete.” 

One of the moments I loved was getting to introduce wheelchair basketball to a little girl who was trying it out for the first time. Her mom had come with her, and they had never seen adaptive sports before. It reminded me of how I started at age 7, and how my parents would bring me out to play. I feel honored to be able to be part of that journey for others now. 

I’m all in for making adaptive sports accessible to everyone, and that’s why ACS means the world to me. It’s my chance to be part of something that’s truly made a positive impact in my life. Opening doors for people with disabilities to have sports opportunities – that’s what truly matters.