Alabama Trio Makes History in 2025 WNBA Draft

NEW YORK — Sarah Ashlee Barker, the Hoover product who starred at Spain Park High School, became the highest-ever draft pick from the Alabama Crimson Tide women's basketball program when the Los Angeles Sparks selected her ninth overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft on April 14, 2025, at The Shed at Hudson Yards.[1][2] Aaliyah Nye followed as the Las Vegas Aces' first pick of the second round at No. 13 overall, while Zaay Green went to the Washington Mystics at No. 32 in the third round, etching a program first with three selections.[2] Barker, the 2020 Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year and two-time Class 7A state player of the year, averaged 23.2 points and 9.9 rebounds in high school, surpassing 2,000 career points before committing to Georgia and transferring to Alabama.[1] The historic draft brought Alabama's total drafted players to 11, with five selections in the last five years under head coach Kristy Curry, including Jasmine Walker (2021, Sparks) and Brittany Davis (2023, Aces).[2] Barker, Nye and Green join a growing Tide pipeline to the pros, highlighting the program's rise in the Southeastern Conference. From Birmingham's backyard to the WNBA stage, Barker's ninth-pick status shatters previous school records.[2] Coach Kristy Curry hailed the night as a testament to the players' grit, noting in a program release the significance of three Tide women advancing to the league simultaneously.[2] Barker, now with the Portland Fire after her Sparks rookie year and a stint in Athletes Unlimited, embodies Alabama hoops pride from Hoover to New York.[1] As the 2026 WNBA season looms, these selections signal bright futures for state basketball talent.