Baileigh Sinaman-Daniel is the first one-armed player to score in a college game (Credit: Lesley.edu/ CC-BY-SA-2.0)

Baileigh Sinaman-Daniel will forever remember her 2024-25 basketball season. On December 4, 2024, the 22-year-old became the first NCAA Division III women’s basketball player with one arm to score in a collegiate game. Her coach, Martin Rather, immediately called a timeout to mark the historic moment.

"My first thought was, 'That’s history, and we need to take a second to pause and celebrate it,'" Rather said. "Everybody just swarmed Baileigh, giving her high fives, celebrating her."

While thrilled, Baileigh was determined to prove the shot was not a fluke. Seven weeks later, on her birthday, she scored her second basket — adding two more points for her team.

Baileigh was born with a small right arm that she cannot use. But that never diminished her love for basketball. Inspired by NBA star LeBron James, she dreamed of playing from a young age. Baileigh's tenacity earned her a spot on her high school team, and she spent three seasons proving herself on the court. Then, in her senior year, she was cut. Her coach told her she was no longer needed.

"I felt like I had lost a piece of myself because basketball was the only thing that really made me feel normal," Baileigh said.

The decision was disappointing, but Baileigh never gave up on her dream of playing college basketball. She created a three-minute video of her basketball skills and sent it to coaches across the country. Her video earned her a spot on the team at Warren Wilson College in North Carolina, where she played for two years. In 2024, Baileigh transferred to Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

At Lesley, she has logged more individual practice sessions than anyone else on the team. Her dedication helped push the team to its best season in 14 years and secure a spot in the NAC West Division Championship playoffs. Despite a loss in the semifinals, Baileigh is looking ahead to the 2025-2026 season.

"I feel like next season will definitely be an interesting one because my confidence has just skyrocketed through the roof," she said.

The 22-year-old hopes her success will inspire kids to pursue their dreams, no matter the obstacles.

"I would love to be a role model for kids who feel like they don't have a place in this world or feel like they're so out of place – because I once felt like that as well," she said.

Resources: CNN.com, NBCnews.com, KCRA.com