Meet the One-Armed Black Female Basketball Player Making History in the NCAA

Nationwide — Meet Baileigh Sinaman-Daniel, a 22-year-old African American basketball player at Lesley University, who has made history as the first NCAA Division III women’s basketball player with one arm to score in a collegiate game.

Baileigh, born with one arm, faced many challenges growing up, especially in basketball — a sport she loved thanks to her childhood idol, LeBron James. Her biggest setback came in high school when her coach cut her from the team in her senior year. Instead of giving up, she used the rejection as motivation, reaching out to hundreds of college coaches in search of an opportunity.

After spending two years at Warren Wilson College, Baileigh transferred to Lesley University. Her perseverance paid off when she made her first collegiate basket — a long shot near the three-point line that swished through the net.

“I kind of just shot the ball with the anticipation that I would have to go and get it back on a rebound,” Sinaman-Daniel told 11 Alive. “When the shot actually went in, I was more so surprised.”

Her coach, Martin Rather, immediately called a timeout to celebrate the achievement, marking the moment in history.

Baileigh’s success on the court hasn’t come easily. She had to develop unique techniques to adapt to playing with one arm, adjusting her shooting and ball-handling skills. Her dedication has made her one of the hardest-working players on the team, helping Lesley reach the playoffs for the first time in 14 years.

As she continues to make history on the court, she hopes her journey will encourage others to pursue their dreams, no matter the obstacles.

“When people look at me, I just hope they see me as Baileigh. I hope they see me as a basketball player and also see me as somebody who’s willing and able to do everything that everybody else is doing,” Sinaman-Daniel said.