The Charlottesville Cardinals wheelchair basketball team was formed in early 1980 by six local athletes in the Charlottesville area. The team was created to provide athletes with disabilities an opportunity for exercise and competitive recreation, and to educate the general public concerning the capabilities of individuals with disabilities. Since its formation, over 350 area athletes with disabilities have participated with the Cardinals and they have performed in front of over 35,000 people across the U.S. and Canada.

The team was initially sponsored by the Therapeutic Recreation Program of the City of Charlottesville. Later, a local center for independent living, the Independence Resource Center, helped sponsor the team. Most of the team's funds come from contributions and from the players themselves.

The Cardinals compete in the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) which consists of about 180 teams in North America. Many of the teams are sponsored by the National Basketball Association (NBA). The NWBA has three divisions. Division I, which consists of only about six teams this year, uses NBA rules and allows players to be "flown in" from around the country. Division II uses NCAA rules and consists of about 70 teams. Division III also uses NCAA rules and has about 70 teams, but is a developmental league and restricts the number of less disabled players on the court.

Now in their 27th season, the Cardinals will again field a Division 2 , a Division 3 and a Women's team. This past season the Division 2 squad was ranked as high as 2nd in the nation, and made it to the "THE FINAL FOUR" of the national championships before losing to the Dallas Mavs in overtime. They begin the 2007-08 season ranked 3rd in the country. The D3 Cardinals finished the season ranked 9th in the country. This is their first time breaking into the top ten.

The Cardinals perform numerous demonstrations at schools, churches, and community events to educate the general public concerning the abilities of people with disabilities. They have also assisted numerous community groups raise funds for various causes throughout the years. In 1982, members of the Cardinals formed a local advocacy group for people with disabilities that eventually became the Independence Resource Center, one of sixteen centers for independent living in central Virginia. Members of the Cardinals still serve on both the staff and Board of Directors of the Independence Resource Center.

The Cardinals line-up includes men and women, young and old. The youngest current player is 16, and the oldest is (we stop counting). The Charlottesville Cardinals play in the Capitol Conference of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association.