Making Sports History: Brittany Joins the WPBL
Former Shriners Children's patient joins the Women’s Professional Baseball League's inaugural roster.
It’s the stuff that movies are made of.
In fact, one was.
While the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League – immortalized in the 1992 film A League of Their Own – required players to attend charm school and wear make-up on the field, the Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL) only requires one thing of athletes: talent. And former Shriners Children’s Greenville patient Brittany has got that.
“When I was really little, I watched my dad and older brother play catch in the backyard, and I wanted to play too,” said Brittany, 22. “I started T-ball, where the team was a mix of girls and boys, but when we got old enough to play rec baseball, I was the only girl still playing.”
She was also the only player on the team born without a right hand.
“I never felt like I shouldn’t be there. The boys on the team were like my brothers, and the coach never treated me like I was different because of my limb difference or for being a girl. He treated me like I was just another one of his players.”
When she was 12, Brittany found another place where she felt like she belonged: Shriners Children’s Greenville and its Pediatric Orthotic and Prosthetic Services (POPS) department.
I wanted a prosthesis that would help me support the bat, and that’s when I met Crissy.
“To Crissy, there was never a moment where I was the kid with one hand or the girl playing baseball. I was just an athlete who wanted to play the sport I loved to the best of my ability, and she was going to help make that happen.”
Certified prosthetist Crissy Rose, CP, CFo, and POPS also created a “pincher” prosthesis to assist in simple daily life tasks.
“The middle school years are hard for any kid trying to figure out how to fit in, but when you’re disabled, it makes it 10 times harder,” Brittany said. “Shriners is a place where kids receive the love and care they need. Plus, I didn’t come from money. They made it possible for me to have what I needed to do the thing that made me happiest without putting a financial stress on my parents.”
Crissy remained dedicated to Brittany’s success as she relayed what worked well and what needed to be revised. If it broke mid-game, Brittany knew she could “ship it to Crissy, who would do whatever was needed” to get her ready for the next game.
When it was time to try out for the high school baseball team, Brittany was ready. The talented outfielder breathed a sigh of relief as she made the cut, day after day. However, as she stood with the final players remaining at the end of the week – the coach pulled her aside.
“He hyped up my pitching, my speed and my outfielding ability. But then he told me I would never be strong enough to compete with the guys. He suggested I try softball instead.”
Knowing it was the only option if she wanted to keep swinging the bat and fielding balls, Brittany’s softball career began. Soon, other teams began asserting that Brittany’s prosthesis gave her a batting advantage. “I decided it wasn’t a fight worth having, so I stopped using my prosthesis and learned how to swing with one arm.”
Crissy then outfitted Brittany with a device for weightlifting – a useful tool to build strength for the college athlete she was set to become.
“I played for Greensboro College my freshman year, but when my mom was in an accident, I felt my family needed me. I quit, and I thought that was the end.” Then, in 2024, she scrolled across a post on Instagram promoting a new baseball league for women.
The sport that had always held onto her heart was calling her home.
“I had three months to train like crazy to stand out among 640 other players. I knew I would be competing against women who were D1 college recruits and others who played internationally.”
Swinging so hard against baseballs hurled at 80 mph, Brittany said, “I split my nub but kept it hidden. I didn’t want anything to make them think I couldn’t do this.” She ended the week ranked 55th among the hundreds – and accepted an offer from the Los Angeles team.
"When I started coming to Shriners 10 years ago, I was introduced to a community that would stand behind me as I worked to do something most girls didn’t," said Brittany. "I think a lot has changed in those years, and we’re learning that if there’s not another seat at the table, you can pull up a chair. There is room for everyone."
Brittany will play in the first-ever WPBL game on August 1, 2026, at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois.
Photos courtesy of Women’s Pro Baseball League
Brittany fields a ball during preseason workouts with the Women's Pro Baseball League.
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