Louisiana’s Playground will welcome a special guest this week as 17-year-old London Potts of Charlotte, North Carolina, travels to Southwest Louisiana for the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I Women’s Basketball Championship. 

Potts, who lives with an intellectual and developmental disability, was surprised at the Dream On 3 Gala in Charlotte on Saturday night after being selected as the first NJCAA Dreamer. She has long wanted to attend a championship event, meet women athletes and experience the game from behind the scenes.  

“My sports dream is to be a VIP at the NJCAA DI Women’s Basketball Championship!” she said. 

Her visit is part of a new partnership between Dream On 3, a Charlotte-based nonprofit that creates sports-themed experiences for young people with life-altering conditions, and the NJCAA, the governing body for two-year college athletics nationwide. Potts is the first participant in the NJCAA x Dream On 3 initiative. 

For this experience, Dream On 3 and the NJCAA are working with Visit Lake Charles, with support from Eric Zartler, executive director of the Lake Charles Regional Sports Authority and senior vice president of sports at Visit Lake Charles. 

“This is a big week for our community, and London gets to be right in the middle of it,” Zartler said. “That’s a unique opportunity, and it’s one we’re proud to help deliver.” 

The NJCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship is being held March 24-31 at Townsley Law Arena in Lake Charles. Potts will attend the semifinal and championship games. The semifinal games will air on ESPN+, with the championship game on ESPNU. The tournament features top two-year college programs from across the country. 

During her visit, London will receive VIP access to the NJCAA DI Women’s Basketball Championship, including behind-the-scenes experiences such as locker room and courtside moments, along with meet-and-greets with athletes and coaches. She will also enjoy additional, community-driven experiences curated by Visit Lake Charles and the Lake Charles Regional Sports Authority. 

Her visit further highlights Southwest Louisiana as a premier destination for national championship-level events and inclusive sports experiences. 

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About Visit Lake Charles
Visit Lake Charles, the official destination marketing organization for Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana, is the only organization in Southwest Louisiana providing advocacy, promotion, and education for the tourism industry. For more information on Visit Lake Charles and things to see and do in Louisiana’s Playground, log on to www.visitlakecharles.org. 

About Dream On 3 
Dream On 3 (DO3) is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit organization headquartered in Charlotte, NC, dedicated to creating unforgettable sports‑themed Dream Experiences for children and young adults (ages 5–21) living with life‑altering conditions. By creating personal, joyful experiences with athletes, teams, and sporting events, DO3 inspires hope, builds community, and changes lives. The organization continues to expand its national reach, connecting deserving dreamers with unforgettable experiences and their heroes in the world of sports. To learn more about Dream On 3, visit www.dreamon3.org.  

About the NJCAA
Since 1938, the NJCAA has served as the premier governing body for two‑year collegiate athletics, providing student‑athletes with opportunities to prepare, compete, succeed, and achieve in both their academic and athletic disciplines. The NJCAA is the second‑largest national intercollegiate athletic organization in the United States, with over 500 member schools and 3,400 teams competing in 28 different sports. Each year, the NJCAA sponsors 57 national championships and invitationals.  

#SameGameSameRules – visit NJCAA.org for more information.