A gym of spectators, teammates and opponents showed love and kindness to a young woman with Down syndrome when she scored her first basket.

For a lot of people, sports are a deadly serious subject. They want their team, whether in the high school, collegiate or professional rankings, to perform well. Wins and losses, for the most part, are the only statistic that matters to many fans. Sportsmanship and kindness during the heat of competition often fall by the wayside.

That was not the case during a basketball game between two teams of young women. A video posted on TikTok captures the sweet moment when a young woman with Down syndrome scores a basket – her first – during the game. The young woman’s unbridled joy and how the entire gym of spectators reacts is so heartwarming!

In the video posted by the young woman’s mother, the text explains the situation.“My Girl #24 has Down’s Syndrome & hasn’t scored all season. Score 0-0…she’s up…U GOTTA WATCH!!,” the text reads.

As the video starts, no. 24 is led out onto the floor by one of her teammates. The little girl is placed a few feet away from the basket as another one of her teammates prepares to inbound the ball. 

The basketball eventually finds its way into the hands of the little girl and she shoots several times, desperately trying to put the ball in the basket. This all happens as children on the other team continue to allow the little girl to shoot and try for a basket.

Then, at around the 1:15-minute mark of the clip, no. 24 puts the ball in the basket, sending the entire gym into a frenzy!

What an incredible act of sportsmanship, kindness and love. That’s likely a moment she’ll cherish for the rest of her life.

Colossians 3:12 “Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance.”