Baileigh Sinaman-Daniel: The One-Armed Basketball Player Redefining What’s Possible

She didn’t let rejection stop her rise — she turned it into her reason to soar.

When her high school coach cut her from the team her senior year, Baileigh Sinaman-Daniel could have let that be the end of her basketball dream. Instead, she turned heartbreak into motivation. Today, at 22 years old, the Lesley University guard from Cambridge, Massachusetts, has made sports history as the first NCAA Division III women’s basketball player with one arm to score in a collegiate game (NBC News).

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From Rejection to Reinvention

A native of Stafford, Virginia, Sinaman-Daniel grew up with a passion for basketball that began when she first saw LeBron James play on TV. She joined her high school team at Mountain View High School, playing three years before that devastating senior-year cut.

“I actually got cut, and the coach basically told me that I wasn’t needed on the team,” she recalled in an interview with NBC News.

For two days, she sat in disbelief. But then, something shifted. “I thought to myself, I could do this in college. What’s stopping me from doing this in college?” she said.

That mindset — one of defiance and belief — became the cornerstone of her comeback. She started emailing college coaches across the country, sending videos and heartfelt messages. She didn’t care whether it was Division I or Division III; she just wanted someone to believe in her potential.

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A Relentless Work Ethic

Her determination eventually earned her a roster spot at Warren Wilson College in North Carolina. After two years of development and growth there, she transferred to Lesley University, where head coach Martin Rather saw something special in her.

At Lesley, Sinaman-Daniel quickly became known as one of the hardest-working players in the gym. According to The Boston Globe, she logged more solo practice sessions than anyone else on the team, often staying late to work on ball-handling and shooting mechanics adapted for her one-armed style.

Her dedication helped push the Lesley Lynx to their best season in 14 years, a stunning turnaround for the program that culminated in a playoff berth (ESPN). Rather said her effort “elevated the team’s energy and discipline” both on and off the court.

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A Historic Shot Heard Around the Court

All that work paid off when Sinaman-Daniel made history. In a game earlier this year, she hit a long-range shot near the three-point line — a clean swish that didn’t even touch the rim.

“I kind of just shot the ball with the anticipation that I would have to go and get it back on a rebound,” she said. “When the shot actually went in, I was more so surprised than anything.”

Coach Rather immediately called a timeout. “My first thought was, ‘That’s history, and we need to take a second to pause and celebrate it,’” he told NBC News. “Everybody just swarmed Baileigh, giving her high fives, celebrating her. It was a powerful moment.”

Seven weeks later — fittingly, on her birthday — she scored again, marking another milestone in what had already become one of the most inspiring seasons in college basketball.

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Breaking Barriers Beyond the Court

There are very few one-armed athletes competing in collegiate basketball. Sinaman-Daniel joins a small but growing list of adaptive athletes proving that physical differences don’t limit potential — they redefine it.

“Taking passes or giving a good pass or figuring out the right shooting form — I’ve had to tweak and adjust,” she told The Washington Post. Her willingness to experiment and adapt has made her not only a better athlete but also a role model for others navigating life with disabilities.

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

Her journey has drawn attention from across the country, including coverage on NPR and CBS Sports, where she was praised for breaking new ground for representation in college athletics.

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Inspiration in Motion

Coach Rather believes her impact extends far beyond basketball. “We’re showing that we can both win and have really high-quality players that might not look like everybody else on our team,” he said (NBC News).

Sinaman-Daniel, a psychology major, hopes to one day use her education and her platform to advocate for inclusion in sports and education. “I’ve learned that the things that make us different are the same things that make us strong,” she said. “Basketball taught me that.”

She now speaks to youth programs and high school teams about perseverance, reminding young athletes that success is not about perfection — it’s about persistence.

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Resilience Redefined

Sinaman-Daniel’s story is more than a highlight reel moment — it’s a blueprint for resilience. In an era when athletes are celebrated for their physical gifts, she’s redefining greatness as the power to overcome, adapt, and inspire.

As ESPN noted, her courage “transcends the sport,” making her an emblem of determination not just for athletes with disabilities but for anyone who has ever been told “no.”

From being cut in high school to scoring in a college basketball game — with one arm and unstoppable faith — Baileigh Sinaman-Daniel reminds the world that rejection isn’t the end. It’s the beginning of a new kind of victory.

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Baileigh, you didn’t just make history — you made hope visible.