This year, more than 4,000 Indigenous athletes from 50 tribes across Indian Country in the United States, Canada and Mexico participated in the annual Lori Piestewa Native American Games. Established in 2003, the games commemorate the life and legacy of Lori Piestewa, the first woman in the U.S. military to lose her life in action in the Iraq War. She was also the first Native American woman to die in combat with the U.S. Armed Forces.

The games took place over the weekend of July 5-7 at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa. The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community fielded several teams in softball, baseball and basketball.

For the first time, softball games were played later in the day and overnight, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., rather than during the daytime. This new schedule ensured players’ safety in the scorching Arizona heat and also accommodated the large number of teams competing.

Softball

On Saturday, July 6, the Piestewa Games kicked off its softball tournament at the Arizona Athletic Grounds. Teams were each given three pool-play games before bracket play began. Women’s, men’s and co-ed brackets were showcased throughout the night. For co-ed, 12 teams entered the brackets, two of which were from the Community: Tribal Forces and Yee Yee. Both teams battled in games throughout the evening, but both were eliminated from championship contention in bracket play.

Baseball

SRPMIC dominated in this year’s baseball tournament. After winning the single-A championship in this year’s Arizona Diamondbacks Inter-Tribal Baseball & Softball Tournament in June, team AZ Sons repeated their winning ways as they easily cruised through the competition en route to securing first place in the single-A division.

That dominance continued with the double-A and triple-A teams, AZ Heat, which also won their divisions and brought home the first-place championship hardware.

Basketball

Coached by SRPMIC Tribal Council member Wi-Bwa Grey, team Zona Soldiers battled against fierce competition in the girls’ basketball division. Playing inside the Arizona Athletic Grounds away from the hot sun, it would be team Rez Bombers that would clinch the girls’ varsity division championship. Lady Blossoms would go on to win the junior varsity girls’ division.

Grey also served as head coach in the varsity boys’ basketball division for team Tribal Elite. Though they competed well, AZ Warriors ended up winning the boys varsity championship while team Roc Steady won the JV boys’ title. For the men’s open division bracket, team OTF would claim the top honors.

On October 5, the Piestewa Games will host the wrestling and track and field events. Full details will be released on August 1.

The event has grown from 26 athletes competing in the first Piestewa Games in 2003 to the more than 4,000 who competed this year. The 2024 Lori Piestewa Games featured the best of the best in baseball, basketball, powerlifting, softball and volleyball. Though Lori Piestewa is no longer with us in physical form, her family continues to build her legacy by hosting the games every year as a way to showcase the many athletic talents of Indian Country.