As women’s basketball continues to draw renewed national attention, Gallaudet University — the nation’s premier university for Deaf and hard of hearing students — entered this season building on a championship foundation.
A new roster and two freshmen emerging as dominant forces in the program’s next phase are now bolstering hopes for continued success.
Natalie Greene and Kayla Debrow have quickly established themselves as key contributors, bringing size, composure, and a steady presence to a team navigating transition. Together, they have anchored the paint and helped shape an identity that balances continuity with a fresh, evolving look.
“They are our first true twin towers,” head coach Stephanie Stevens said. “As first-year student-athletes, they impacted the game in transition, locked down the lane defensively, and rebounded with purpose, which helped our whole team settle in and play with more confidence.”
Greene is a graduate of Willowridge High School in Houston, Texas. She delivered a standout freshman campaign, averaging 17 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Greene earned United East Rookie of the Year and Second Team All-Conference honors, along with Offensive Player of the Week. She also secured Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Rookie of the Year.
Debrow is a 6-foot-3 forward/center and graduate of the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind. She established herself as a defensive anchor, averaging 9.6 rebounds and recording 48 blocks. Debrow was named Third Team All-Conference and United East Defensive Player of the Week.
A pivotal moment
Their presence comes at a pivotal moment for the program.
Last season, Gallaudet’s women’s basketball team captured the United East Conference championship, closing out a veteran-led era. By the start of the 2025–26 season, that group had largely moved on, leaving a younger roster to carry forward the program’s momentum while defining its own identity.
Gallaudet Director of Athletics Warren Keller said the future is already taking shape.
“We can all see the results of the new team’s hard work, giving us much optimism about our future,” he said.
Other contributors — including Seanna Baird, Mackenzie Schirg, Sunita Schmidjorg, and Tiana Starayev — have also played key roles in the team’s development, reinforcing a roster built on depth, resilience, and growth.
Competing without sound
For many, the idea of competing without sound is difficult to imagine. At Gallaudet, it is simply the foundation of how athletes train and perform.
Without whistles, shouted instructions, or audible cues from behind, players rely on awareness, timing, and trust. They read movement, anticipating space, and communicating through sight.
Greene said that awareness becomes instinctive.
“We pay attention to our surroundings, remember our plays, know how to pivot and go with our gut,” she said. “From the coaches on the sidelines, to the teammates on the court, someone is always signaling you.”
A legacy beyond the game
While the women’s basketball program is gaining attention, Gallaudet’s influence on sports extends far beyond the court.
Widely recognized as the birthplace of the football huddle, the university introduced the practice in 1894 as Deaf players gathered closely to communicate plays in sign language without revealing them to opponents.
More recently, Gallaudet gained national attention through its partnership with AT&T. The telecommunications giant unveiled a 5G-connected football helmet that delivers plays directly to a quarterback’s visor — a breakthrough rooted in visual communication.
A culture of excellence across sports
In the United States, an estimated 11 million people identify as Deaf or have serious difficulty hearing, according to the 2021 American Community Survey. Data suggests that worldwide, hearing loss will affect 2.5 billion people by 2050, with more than 700 million requiring rehabilitation, according to the World Health Organization.
That scale underscores both the visibility of hearing differences and the persistent misconceptions that remain — particularly in athletics, where hearing loss is often incorrectly associated with limitation. In reality, Deaf athletes compete — and excel — at every level of sport.
Gallaudet competes in NCAA Division III, with student-athletes consistently earning recognition across multiple programs.
Recent honors announced in March 2026 include:
Men’s Basketball
Sophomore guard Jory Valencia earned United East Third Team All-Conference honors, ranking fifth in NCAA Division III in assists per game (6.5).
Senior guard Kyle Florio was named to the United East All-Sportsmanship Team.
Women’s Basketball
Sophomore guard Dev Sklar was named to the United East All-Sportsmanship Team.
Men’s Volleyball
Sophomore outside hitter Zachary Bippus was named Defensive Player of the Week after recording 24 kills, 14 digs, five blocks, and four aces.
Setter Troy Holcomb surpassed 1,000 career assists in just two seasons.
Softball
Senior pitcher Lacey Drolsbaugh delivered a historic performance, throwing 10 scoreless innings, recording her third no-hitter of the season, and hitting three home runs in a single day, earning both Pitcher and Player of the Week honors.
Track & Field
First-year student-athletes Mohamed Elsheikh and Tori Cushshon were named to the United East All-Sportsmanship Team.
Established in 1864 through an act signed by President Abraham Lincoln, Gallaudet University holds another unique distinction: every graduate’s diploma is signed by the sitting President of the United States — a tradition that has endured for more than a century.
Note: The author of this story is Natalie Greene’s mother.
