Fresh off an unforgettable send-off banquet at MSU last night, Team Montana is officially on the ground in Minneapolis!

This afternoon, 25 athletes, 9 Unified partners, 9 coaches, and 8 support staff representing communities from across Montana departed the Big Sky State with a law enforcement escort to the Bozeman airport. Family, friends, and supporters lined up to cheer as the team stepped off the bus and headed inside. It was the perfect send-off.

But the excitement was just getting started.

When the team landed in Minneapolis at 2:35 p.m., the captain let the rest of the passengers know they were sharing the flight with Team Montana, headed to the 2025 Special Olympics USA Games. (Fun fact: our delegation made up nearly half the plane!) The announcement was met with a cabin full of cheers and applause, giving our athletes one more warm welcome before the competition even begins.

Over the next seven days, Team Montana will compete in athletics (track & field), aquatics, bocce, bowling, golf, gymnastics, and 5-on-5 Unified basketball as they proudly represent Montana on the national stage.

The excitement officially begins Saturday night with Opening Ceremony! If you’re cheering from home, tune in on ESPN+ and Disney+ from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. ET to watch the celebration.

Be sure to check back throughout the week for updates, photos, and stories from Minneapolis, and follow us on social media as Team Montana takes on the USA Games!