The Arizona Sports & Entertainment Commission (ASEC) will host the 2024 Lori Piestewa National Native American Games this weekend, July 5-7, at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in east Mesa, near Queen Creek.
More than 4,000 athletes representing 57 tribes from the United States, Mexico and Canada will compete in basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball and power lifting during the three-day event. This year’s field will see a record number of participating teams in basketball and baseball, with 200 and 35 entries, respectively.
On Friday, July 5 the games begin at 2 p.m. and will conclude on Sunday, July 7 at 6 p.m. A complete schedule is available at PiestewaGames.com.
In a Piestewa Games first, the 2024 softball competition will take place overnight, from 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 6 to 6 a.m. on Sunday, July 7, featuring men’s, women’s and co-ed action. Joining the power lifting contest will be a 10-year-old from Tuba City.
The Arizona Athletic Grounds are located at 6321 S. Ellsworth Road.
The Piestewa Games are named in honor of Lori Piestewa, a member of the Hopi people, who was the first Native American woman to die in combat while serving in the U.S. military.
