The new partnership will begin immediately and see both NWBA's men's and women's national teams use Molten’s new X-Series basketballs at training camps leading up to the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

The NWBA will also use the Molten X-Series balls at the NWBA national tournament, scheduled to take place from April 7 to 10 in Louisville, and NWBA-conducted competitions throughout the agreement.

Molten offers a variety of elite and competition level basketballs and sports equipment will be available to the NWBA and the NWBA membership.

They will market to the wheelchair basketball community, it is claimed, offering a variety of promotional opportunities to purchase Molten basketballs at a discounted rate.

Featured products include the X-Series, the official basketball of the International Basketball Federation, which is said to integrate tradition with innovation, delivering maximum grip and increased visibility for players and spectators.

"We are excited to partner with Molten USA in the use of Molten basketballs throughout the NWBA," said Jim Scherr, NWBA interim executive director.

"The popular Molten X-Series will be featured at the NWBA national tournament as well as other NWBA-conducted events.

"The relationship will increase the NWBA's reach and awareness of wheelchair basketball to a larger audience of sport enthusiasts, and allow our membership to benefit from unique discount programmes."

Molten will aim to provide support to the NWBA for its national teams, National Championships, and NWBA events.

The two parties also intend to collaborate on a variety of grassroots, website and social media initiatives.

"We believe that Molten's commitment to manufacturing the highest quality products combined with the strength and passion of the wheelchair basketball community will help enable athletes across the nation achieve their highest potential," said Molten USA President Melissa Dawson.

"We look forward to working together with the NWBA, NWBA membership and to supporting our national teams as they pursue their goals this year."

The NWBA hosted its first Rio 2016 selection camp earlier this month at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, where the list of prospective players for their men's squad was reduced from 26 athletes to 16.

Jeremy Lade and Matt Scott are among those targeting a place in the team for the Paralympic Games, having previously competed at Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

The pair are aiming for a fourth consecutive appearance at the Paralympic Games, with their last outing seeing them help the US to a bronze medal.