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The Los Angeles Spark selected Alabama women's basketball guard Sarah Ashlee Barker with the No. 9 pick in the WNBA draft on Monday.
Barker was in attendance in New York for the draft. She recently capped off her Crimson Tide career with a 45-point outburst in an NCAA Tournament second-round loss to Maryland, it set a new school record.
Barker led the Crimson Tide with 18.2 points per game, even missing five SEC games with a leg injury. She scored 20 points in 10 games adding 6.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and two steals per game in 2024-25.
The Alabama native won two state titles with Spain Park High School and started her career with Georgia, where she earned a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team.
Barker can score with the best of them, evidenced by her swansong 45-point performance in the NCAA Tournament's second round. She wasn't always asked to be the leading scorer for Alabama, but when called upon, she could do it. What will help her at the next level is her ability to fill up the stat sheet making winning plays across the court.
For the Crimson Tide, Barker averaged almost six rebounds, three assists and 1.8 steals per game over the past three seasons. That versatility will help her in the WNBA, as she probably won't be asked to be a leading scorer.
LEGACY CEMENTED: Sarah Ashlee Barker cemented Alabama women's basketball legacy with 45 points in final game
BARKER'S IMPACT: Sarah Ashlee Barker's Alabama career over, but her NCAA Tournament impact lingers
MEET SARAH ASHLEE: Meet Sarah Ashlee Barker, Alabama women's basketball's senior do-it-all leader
Barker has improved in this area, but her first two years with Alabama she averaged nearly three fouls per game, fouling out seven times over two seasons. She had her best season in 2024-25 with just under 2.5 fouls per game, only fouling out in an overtime win over LSU, but she did have 14 games with three or more fouls.
Barker's ability to impact the game in each facet, especially in rebounding and on defense, should help her make an early impression even though she won't be asked to make an immediate scoring impact. She played plenty of roles for the Crimson Tide, which will only help her as she starts a pro career.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: 2025 WNBA Draft: Los Angeles Sparks selects Sarah Ashlee Barker
Continue reading...
Barker was in attendance in New York for the draft. She recently capped off her Crimson Tide career with a 45-point outburst in an NCAA Tournament second-round loss to Maryland, it set a new school record.
Barker led the Crimson Tide with 18.2 points per game, even missing five SEC games with a leg injury. She scored 20 points in 10 games adding 6.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and two steals per game in 2024-25.
The Alabama native won two state titles with Spain Park High School and started her career with Georgia, where she earned a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team.
The postivies
Barker can score with the best of them, evidenced by her swansong 45-point performance in the NCAA Tournament's second round. She wasn't always asked to be the leading scorer for Alabama, but when called upon, she could do it. What will help her at the next level is her ability to fill up the stat sheet making winning plays across the court.
For the Crimson Tide, Barker averaged almost six rebounds, three assists and 1.8 steals per game over the past three seasons. That versatility will help her in the WNBA, as she probably won't be asked to be a leading scorer.
LEGACY CEMENTED: Sarah Ashlee Barker cemented Alabama women's basketball legacy with 45 points in final game
BARKER'S IMPACT: Sarah Ashlee Barker's Alabama career over, but her NCAA Tournament impact lingers
MEET SARAH ASHLEE: Meet Sarah Ashlee Barker, Alabama women's basketball's senior do-it-all leader
The concerns
Barker has improved in this area, but her first two years with Alabama she averaged nearly three fouls per game, fouling out seven times over two seasons. She had her best season in 2024-25 with just under 2.5 fouls per game, only fouling out in an overtime win over LSU, but she did have 14 games with three or more fouls.
Final Thoughts
Barker's ability to impact the game in each facet, especially in rebounding and on defense, should help her make an early impression even though she won't be asked to make an immediate scoring impact. She played plenty of roles for the Crimson Tide, which will only help her as she starts a pro career.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: 2025 WNBA Draft: Los Angeles Sparks selects Sarah Ashlee Barker
Continue reading...
