PENN WYNNE, Pennsylvania (WPVI) — They were brought together by faith, and faith, they never lost.
A group of Philadelphia athletes competed on the ‘Coast to Coast’ 17U girls basketball team at the 2026 JCC Maccabi Games in Toronto Canada. The team also included a few players from Alberta and Detroit.
After stumbling to an early 0-2 record, the girls fought back and reached the championship match against JCC of Los Angeles.
In a close match, the Coast to Coast team secured a victory.
Local athletes, who are based at the Kaiserman JCC, recall the adrenaline, emotion, and friendships they formed on the road to a gold medal.
They also embrace the shared camaraderie, rooted in Jewish faith, between themselves and their opponents.
But the gold medals aren’t the only things coming back to Philadelphia.
Next year, The Kaiserman JCC will host the JCC Maccabi Games on August 1-6, 2027. Games will also be hosted at Shalom Austin in July.
The Kaiserman JCC encourages everyone in the community to get involved to make the celebration of Jewish athletes a success.
Watch the video above to hear more from the athletes.
RELATED: Students shine on ‘Deaf Awareness Night’ at Phillies game
Students from the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf performed the National Anthem, showing how fans of all abilities can enjoy a Phillies game.
Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.