Alabama's Sarah Ashlee Barker a 1st round pick in WNBA Draft:

Barker's NCAA tournament run helped her for this great moment:

GDW Analysis:
NEW YORK: For how Sarah Ashlee Barker showed her skills during the recent NCAA basketball tournament, she was rewarded Monday evening in the WNBA Draft.
The Alabama Crimson Tide shooting guard was selected 9th in the 1st round by the Los Angeles Sparks.
Barker, a standout at Spain Park High School with 2 AHSAA championships, carved her name into being invited to the draft ceremony.
Being steady in a point producer and a floor leader, Barker caught a lot of attention in the NCAA Tournament 2nd round game on March 24 against the University of Maryland.
The grad student ripped the cords for 45 points, setting a school record.
Alabama lost in Double OT 111 to 108. A win and the Tide would have been playing South Carolina in the Sweet 16 from Legacy Arena at the BJCC.
Flash Facts:
Barker's selection as a first round pick elevates her and also how she has worked from her prep days, playing one season at Georgia, then coming to Alabama and the Tide making stride for the total package of wins and losses.
Barker was seen by Gameday Weekly two years when Spain Park played in the Northwest Regional at Wallace State.
She earned the regional MVP award her senior season and then carried the Lady Jaguars to the top of Class 7A hoops.
The Sparks saw something that allowed them to select her ahead of TCU guard Hailey Van Lith.
Van Lith was 11th overall, getting drafted by the Los Vegas Aces.
Barker joins a team that is seeking to get better. The Sparks managed a single season low of 8 victories last year against 32 losses.
LA has not made the WNBA playoffs for the past four seasons.
The Sparks do boost one of the best known players in the league in guard Kelsey Plum.
A healthy Cameron Brink will be worthy for the Sparks to move upward in the league.
Brink tore her ACL early in the 2024 season.
Through the draft, the Sparks added quality in selecting F Sania Fagan from South Carolina and F Liatu King of Notre Dame.
Barker will soon be reporting to the team for training camp with the 2025 schedule to get under May 6 at Golden State.

Photo of Alabama's Sarah Ashlee Barker in an NCAA tournament game vs. Maryland March 24.
Photo courtesy of the Tuscaloosa News.