Heidi Burge Horton, California basketball star who inspired Disney movie, dies at 54

Heidi Ann Burge Horton, a California basketball star who inspired a Disney Channel movie, has died at the age of 54 after battling brain cancer. Born in Harbor City, California in 1971, Heidi and her twin sister Heather were the tallest female identical twins in the Guinness World Records for a time. The sisters excelled in basketball, becoming the school's all-time leading scorers in high school.

After graduating, Heidi played overseas basketball in Europe for six years before joining the first season of the WNBA with the Los Angeles Sparks in 1997. Following her retirement, she became a color commentator for the Houston Comets and a physical therapist, as well as a youth basketball coach in Houston. In 2002, the Disney Channel released the movie "Double Teamed," which fictionalized the twins' experiences at Palos Verdes High School.

Heidi was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2022, with her condition fluctuating between remission and recurrence. She passed away on October 5, 2023, leaving behind her husband, son, daughter, sister Heather, and numerous loved ones. The basketball community mourns the loss of a cherished member, as expressed by the Virginia women's basketball program in a statement.