Debbie Antonelli Chooses Dr. Dish to Support Special Olympics Through 24 Hours Nothing But Net

24 hours. Thousands of free throws. One mission: creating opportunities for Special Olympics athletes.

Every year, ESPN college sports analyst and former player Debbie Antonelli takes on an extraordinary basketball challenge. For 24 consecutive hours, she steps to the free-throw line and shoots, using basketball as a platform to raise awareness and funds for the Special Olympics.

Dr. Dish Basketball is proud to partner with Antonelli and support her annual 24 Hours Nothing But Net event, a powerful initiative that brings together the game of basketball, shooting development, and a cause that is deeply personal to Antonelli and her family.

Turning Free Throws Into Impact

At its core, 24 Hours Nothing But Net is about using the power of basketball to make a difference.

Antonelli's goal is to make 100 free throws at the top of every hour for 24 hours, putting her total at 2,400 free throws during the marathon. It's an incredible test of focus, consistency, and endurance. But the shots aren't about a personal record. They're about giving back.

Antonelli created the event after being inspired by her son, Frankie, a Special Olympics athlete. Her family's connection to Special Olympics gave her a firsthand look at the opportunities sports can provide, from competition and fitness to friendship, confidence, and belonging.

That experience became the foundation for 24 Hours Nothing But Net.

What began as a personal challenge has grown into a significant fundraising effort supporting Special Olympics athletes and programs.

Dr. Dish: Helping Keep the Shots Coming

Completing thousands of free throws over 24 hours requires more than mental toughness. It requires a system that can keep up. That's where Dr. Dish comes in.

Antonelli uses a Dr. Dish shooting machine during her free-throw marathon to help efficiently return the basketball after each shot. Instead of spending time chasing rebounds, she can stay focused on what matters: stepping up, finding her rhythm, and making the next shot. For an athlete taking thousands of shots, every second matters.

Dr. Dish's automated rebound-and-pass technology is designed to help players maximize repetitions, stay engaged, and spend more time working on their game. In Antonelli's case, the technology helps make an extraordinary 24-hour shooting challenge possible.

And while Dr. Dish is built to help athletes get better, this partnership demonstrates that its impact can extend beyond player development.

Sometimes, getting more shots up means getting more opportunities to give back.

The Power of the Free Throw

The free throw is one of basketball's simplest shots.

There is no defender. No screen. No teammate to find. Just the shooter, the basket, and a chance to put points on the board. That simplicity makes the free throw the perfect centerpiece for Nothing But Net.

Antonelli's challenge requires an incredible level of consistency. She has maintained a free-throw shooting percentage around 94% throughout the event, demonstrating the focus and preparation necessary to perform at a high level for 24 straight hours.

But the most important number isn't her shooting percentage. It's the impact behind every shot. Every free throw helps tell the story of Special Olympics athletes and the opportunities sports can create. Every made basket contributes to a larger effort to support athletes who deserve the chance to compete, develop, and experience everything sports have to offer.

A Mission That Goes Beyond the Court

For athletes, sports can provide a sense of community, confidence, achievement, and belonging. They create opportunities to build relationships, develop skills, and experience the joy of being part of a team.

That's what makes Debbie Antonelli's connection to this event so meaningful.

Dr. Dish Basketball has donated a brand new Dr. Dish shooting machine each year. This commitment helps drive in more donations while giving one future baller the opportunity to get the most advanced training equipment in the world.

24 Hours Nothing But Net brings those two worlds together.

The basketball community gets an opportunity to rally around a cause. Special Olympics athletes receive greater visibility and support. And Antonelli gets to use the sport she loves to create an impact far beyond the basketball court.

One Shot at a Time

The partnership between Dr. Dish Basketball and Debbie Antonelli represents something we believe strongly in, basketball is about more than getting better at the game.

For 24 hours, Debbie Antonelli does exactly that. One free throw becomes 100. One hour becomes 24. And thousands of shots become an opportunity to support Special Olympics athletes and their pursuit of excellence.

This mission has raised over 1.6 million dollars for Special Olympics! Dr. Dish is proud to be part of the journey, helping Debbie keep the shots coming, while she keeps the mission moving forward.

Because sometimes, the most important shot isn't the one that goes through the net. It's the one that creates an opportunity for someone else!