Shoni Schimmel, a Native American basketball player who once played for the University of Louisville and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), has been accused of committing domestic violence against her partner. Schimmel was once a shining star in the Native American community, inspiring others to succeed in a world often met with wariness and suspicion.
Schimmel and her sister, Jude, were members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla in eastern Oregon, and their success in basketball was seen as a way to uplift Native communities by showing that it was possible to overcome the lingering impacts of colonization and systemic oppression. They both took advantage of a college opportunity 2,000 miles from home, received scholarships, reached the peak of their sport, and earned their degrees. Jude was recognized for having the highest grade-point average among all players at the 2013 women’s Final Four.
Schimmel became an all-American, a 2014 first-round draft pick in the WNBA, and a two-time All-Star. However, her career was not fully realized on the professional level, as questions arose about her fitness and commitment. Schimmel sought to find a balance between being a professional athlete, being with her family, and upholding traditional responsibilities of returning home and giving back to her community.
Schimmel is now facing a trial in federal court in Portland, Ore., on charges of assault. She is accused of strangling her romantic partner, a Native woman, in June 2021, and committing further assault that caused “substantial bodily injury.” Her partner has not been identified, and the U.S. attorney prosecuting the case declined to comment. Almost no details have been made public, as the Umatilla tribal police and the federal authorities declined to release the police report.
Schimmel has pleaded not guilty, and if convicted, she faces a maximum prison sentence of 15 years and a $250,000 fine. Schimmel and her family declined to be interviewed while her case is pending, and her lawyer did not respond to requests for comment.
The allegations against Schimmel are particularly jarring given her status as a hero and role model in the Native American community, who brought wide respect and rare achievement to her community. However, domestic violence is an epidemic among Native American women, with more than 80 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native women experiencing some form of violence and more than half experiencing physical violence by intimate partners (with the majority of attacks committed by non-Native Americans), according to the National Institute of Justice.
Despite the criminal charge, many in the Umatilla community have expressed sympathy for Schimmel, describing the accusations as out of character for her. While the charge will be a “black mark,” the Umatilla will continue to support Schimmel “for what she did for us,” said Randy Minthorn, a tribal member who has held numerous positions over three decades, including teacher and social worker, and whose family has long been involved in Umatilla leadership.
The case has sparked a wider conversation about the pressures faced by Native American athletes who seek to represent themselves, fulfill their mother’s dream, and, by extension, realize the broad hopes of Native people. It also highlights the need for greater awareness and support for victims of domestic violence in Native American communities.
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