The final chapter of Sarah Ashlee Barker’s college basketball career has closed last week following the Alabama Crimson Tide’s double-overtime loss to the Maryland Terrapins in the second round of the NCAA Women’s Tournament.
Barker left it all on the court that night, finishing the game with 45 points and setting a fitting conclusion to an impressive SEC career that spanned her stints at Georgia and Alabama.
On Tuesday, Barker took to Instagram to express her gratitude for her teammates, family, and friends for the impact they had in her life.
“Where do I even begin,” Barker prefaced. “From Athens, Georgia to Tuscaloosa, Alabama; to have been able to call these two places my home has been nothing but a blessing and an honor. Thank you Coach Kristy (Curry) for giving me the chance to come back home and play for my home state these past three years. Being able to play in front of my family every time we’ve played in Coleman Coliseum has been an incredible blessing. There aren’t enough words to describe how thankful I am to have represented my home.”
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As her college career ends, Barker’s fans can look forward to seeing her shine on the professional level as she announced in the same post that she will be declaring for the 2025 WNBA Draft.
“I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for me!” Barker said, following it with a Bible passage: “Isaiah 41:10 ‘Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.’”
Sarah Ashlee Barker could provide value for several WNBA teams
After increasing her stock in this year’s NCAA tournament, Sarah Ashlee Barker is projected as a late first-round pick in the upcoming WNBA Draft. She played well on both ends of the court for the Crimson Tide, leading the team in points (17.2) and steals (2.0) per game.
Barker’s ability to play both offense and defense makes her a valuable candidate for many WNBA teams that need a player who can create her own shots while adding depth in the backcourt.
The Seattle Storm, Chicago Sky, Phoenix Mercury, Minnesota Lynx, Los Angeles Sparks, and Dallas Wings all need backcourt depth and could benefit from acquiring Barker. The Storm, Sky, Lynx, and Mercury round out the last four selections in the first round, with the Sparks, Wings, and Lynx having the first three selections to begin the second round.
For more basketball content, click on Hardwood Heroics. Sabel Reyes can be reached through sabelreyes22@gmail.com. Other websites under the Sports Heroics umbrella are Gridiron Heroics and Wisconsin Heroics.
Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
