Inside The Locker Room: Sarah Ashlee-Barker Reflects On Remarkable Alabama Basketball Journey

On Wednesday on Inside the Locker Room, hosted by Wimp and Barry Sanderson, Alabama women's basketball standout Sarah Ashlee-Barker joined the show to reflect on her career and discuss the Crimson Tide’s recent NCAA Tournament battle.

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The Sandersons, who host their morning show on Tide 100.9 FM & 1230 AM WTBC (7-9 a.m.), welcomed Barker as she shared her thoughts on Alabama’s season-ending loss, her journey through college basketball, and what’s next.

Barker and the Crimson Tide recently returned to Tuscaloosa after a heartbreaking double-overtime loss to Maryland in the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 32. Despite the defeat, Barker closed out her Alabama career on a high note, delivering a virtuoso 45-point performance while making 17 of her 25 shots.

Alabama started strong against Maryland, leading 64-55 heading into the fourth quarter. The Terrapins, however, clawed their way back, forcing overtime after a dramatic sequence in the final moments of regulation. Barker was at the center of the action, stepping up in a pressure-packed moment at the free-throw line.

When I got fouled, I started smiling because, of course, I know exactly the timing of the game and knew I was going to the free throw line,” Barker recalled. “I had three free throws to make, and if I didn’t make one, I was going home. For me, going to my strength—that is Jesus. I literally got to the huddle, looked at my best friend [Carlie Weathers], and I said, ‘Hey, can you pray for me?’ She grabbed my hands and began praying over me. I had all this confidence in the world because I had the Lord by my side. Regardless of whether I made the free throws or not, he was going to love me.

Barker, a Birmingham native, has deep basketball roots. She was the 2020 Gatorade Alabama Girls Basketball Player of the Year, leading Spain Park High School to a state championship and surpassing 2,000 career points. Her path to Alabama, however, wasn’t a direct one—she initially played for Georgia before transferring back to her home state.

“I did decide to go to Georgia,” Barker said. “When I was a freshman and sophomore, I built a great relationship with Coach Johnnie Taylor, who is now at Texas A&M. For me, I knew I wanted to go to the SEC. It was a deciding factor—was I going to stay home and represent, or was I going to go to Georgia? At that time, I wanted to make a name for myself as Sarah Ashlee Barker. People know my dad played here [Alabama] as a quarterback and won a national championship. That’s what I wanted—to kind of have that weight off my shoulders. The Lord opened up a door for me to come back home, and I am forever grateful.”

During her time at Alabama, Barker emerged as a premier scorer, increasing her scoring average by 10 points per game in her final season. She delivered standout performances, including a career-high 36-point outing against Vanderbilt and back-to-back double-doubles in key SEC road wins over Florida and Mississippi State. She was the Tide’s leading scorer in 19 games and earned a Naismith Trophy midseason nomination.

With her college career now complete, Barker is setting her sights on professional basketball.

“Of course, I am going to keep playing, going into the WNBA Draft, which is April 14th,” she said. “For us [Alabama WBK], it’s a quick turnaround. Hopefully, I get drafted and then head to a training camp. Just because you get drafted does not mean you will be on the team, so you still have to work hard and make a team. If the WNBA is not for me, then obviously go overseas. After my playing career, I would love to get into coaching—unless God has something else for me. There have been so many people who have impacted my life, so I want to give back to the game and do the same for others.”

Barker’s presence in the program will not be forgotten. In just three seasons with the Crimson Tide, she left an undeniable mark. Alabama head coach Kristy Curry praised Barker and her teammates after the season-ending loss.

“There’s a lot of emotion in the locker room,” Curry said. “What Sarah Ashlee [Barker] and Aaliyah [Nye] have given to this program, and Zaay [Green] believed in this team. We’re really blessed to have been part of her journey. Then Christabel [Ezumah] and JeAnna [Cunningham]—my heart hurts for those five kids. They’ve represented the University of Alabama and their families with such amazing grace, hard work, grit, toughness, and gratitude. It’s difficult. We just wish we had another minute or two.”

Barker’s journey through college basketball is one of perseverance, faith, and determination. Whether it’s in the WNBA, overseas, or eventually on the sidelines as a coach, her impact on the game is far from over.

To listen to Barker’s full interview on Inside the Locker Room, click here. 

Meanwhile, Alabama men’s basketball is still dancing in March Madness. The Crimson Tide will take on BYU tonight for a spot in the Elite Eight after defeating Saint Mary’s 80-66 in the Sweet 16. Alabama saw a balanced scoring effort in the win, with Mark Sears (12), Chris Youngblood (13), Clifford Omoruyi (10), and Grant Nelson (12) all contributing. If the Tide advances, they will face the winner of Duke vs. Arizona in the next round.

Chase Brumfield is the morning producer and writer for Tide 100.9. He is currently a senior studying communications at Mississippi State University. Follow Chase for more Alabama content on X at @cb3864.