Cambridge Warriors Head to Minneapolis for 2026 Special Olympics USA Games

This June, the Cambridge Warriors — our undefeated Special Olympics basketball team — are heading to Minneapolis to compete in the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games National Championship.

The Warriors will represent Massachusetts at the Games from June 19–26. Since winning the Massachusetts Division I State Basketball Championship in 2017, the team has never looked back, compiling a remarkable 99-0-1 record.

“It’s a band of brothers; we’ve been through everything together,” said guard Charles Quinn, who has been on the team for seven years. “We’re looking for that ultimate goal in Minnesota.”

The Warriors are part of Cambridge Recreation's Cambridge Program for Individuals with Special Needs, which offers activities, life skills, and competitive sports for Cambridge residents with intellectual disabilities. The team is coached by David Tynes, who also serves as Director of the Cambridge Program, and Tyrone Howe. Both are graduates of Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS) and longtime employees of the Department of Human Service Programs, the Recreation division, and the Cambridge Program. Their dedication and leadership have helped build one of the most successful Special Olympics basketball programs in the country.

"I am most proud of this team for their ability to fight through the adversity not only on the basketball court, but the things that they have to deal with in life," said Tynes. "They've embraced having a disability, and they're proud to show people that having a disability doesn't mean you can't play basketball at a very, very high level."

Team Captain Chris Owens, who has been with the Warriors since 2017, put it simply: "We're a family, we're a brotherhood, and we all have each other's backs."

Celebrate with the Warriors

The community is invited to send the team off at the Russell Youth and Community Center, 680 Huron Avenue:

• Saturday, June 13 — Meet and Greet the Players, 1:00–3:00 p.m.
• Thursday, June 18 — Final Massachusetts Practice, 12:30–2:00 p.m.

At 2:30 p.m. on June 18, the team will board the bus for Special Olympics Headquarters in Marlborough to join the rest of the Massachusetts delegation before departing from Logan Airport the following morning for Minneapolis.

Learn more about the Cambridge Program