Sarah Ashlee Barker scored her first WNBA points on Friday night in the Los Angeles Sparks’ season-opening 84-67 victory over the Golden State Valkyries.

The former Spain Park High School and Alabama standout drove into position for a 6-foot shot in the lane for her first WNBA basket with 4:35 remaining in the second quarter at Chase Center in San Francisco.

Barker’s bucket was the first for an Alabama alumnus in the WNBA since Aug. 14, 2022, when Jasmine Walker scored for Los Angeles.

In 13:32 of playing time in her WNBA debut, Barker made 1-of-3 field-goal attempts and had two rebounds and one assist. Barker joined the Sparks as the ninth pick in the WNBA Draft on April 14.

Los Angeles is 1-0 after going 8-32, the WNBA’s worst record, last season. Golden State played the first game in franchise history after joining the WNBA as an expansion team.

Barker won Alabama’s Miss Basketball Award for the 2019-20 season, her final campaign for Spain Park High School in Hoover. Barker paced the Jaguars to the AHSAA Class 7A girls’ basketball championship that season. Spain Park also had won the 2018 title. Barker averaged 23.2 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.9 steals per game during her prep career.

Barker spent two seasons with Georgia before playing the past three with Alabama. During the 2024-25 campaign, Barker averaged 18.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.0 steals in 28 games.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.

Gov. Kay Ivey signed House Bill 88 into law, which will formally recognize the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles officers as state law enforcement personnel. 

Sponsored by Rep. Jerry Starnes, R-Prattville, a retired ABPP officer, and carried in the Senate by Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, the bill amends Section 36-21-40 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to include the ABPP and it’s probation and parole officers in the definitions of “law enforcement agency” and “law enforcement officer.” 

While HB88 does not expand the powers, authority or benefits of ABPP officers, it provides clarity regarding their status. All ABPP officers are certified by the Alabama Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Commission and are required to maintain active training and education. Law enforcement personnel comprise over half of the Bureau’s staff. 

ABPP Director Cam Ward appreciated the legislation, stating, “We are proud of our officers and grateful for their commitment to keeping communities across our state safe. Their job is not easy, but these men and women have sworn to serve and protect the people of Alabama. They uphold that mission every day – regardless of the dangers and difficulties they may face, and this bill is one way we can show our appreciation while recognizing their courage.”

HB88’s passage aligns with this session’s legislative trend to reinforce support for local law enforcement. 

Recently, the Alabama Legislature approved HB202, dubbed the “Back The Blue” bill, which enhances legal protections for police officers by establishing stricter standards for the use of force and allowing officers to seek immunity in certain cases. While supporters argue that such measures provide clarity and support for officers making split-second decisions, opponents express concern over potential shielding of misconduct. 

HB88 is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, further solidifying the role of ABPP officers within Alabama’s law enforcement framework.

The Alabama Crimson Tide are in Gainesville to close the 2025 SEC baseball regular season against the Florida Gators in a Top 25 matchup that could have a major impact on NCAA Tournament seeding.

Alabama (39-13 overall, 15-12 SEC), ranked No. 16 in this week’s USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, is coming off a huge series win over the Georgia Bulldogs, a top five team in many rankings.

The Crimson Tide are one of many SEC teams hoping to make it to Omaha for this year’s College World Series, a place Alabama baseball hasn’t visited since 1999. Jim Wells was the Tide’s skipper back then, and CWS appearances had become fairly consistent with three in four years.

With regular season play wrapping up this weekend and conference tournaments for the Power Four leagues set to begin next week, USA TODAY Sports experts Eddie Timanus and Erick Smith unveiled their full 64-team projections for the 2025 NCAA Tournament on Thursday.

The two see Alabama as one of the 16 regional site hosts — barely. The Crimson Tide are the No. 15 seed in USA TODAY Sports’ projections, so a solid weekend in Gainesville and at the SEC Tournament in Hoover would go a long way in making coach Rob Vaughn’s team a lock as a regional host.

West Virginia (40-10), Southeastern Louisiana (37-14) and Fairfield (36-15) are the three teams Smith and Timanus project Alabama would face in a Tuscaloosa Regional, if tournament play began today.

More NCAA Tournament expert predictions for Alabama baseball

First pitch for Game 1 of Alabama vs. Florida is at 5:30 p.m. CT Thursday. Right-hander Tyler Fay (0-2, 5.44 ERA) is scheduled to start for Alabama against Florida’s Liam Peterson (8-2, 3.81). The game and series can be streamed on SEC Network+ and ESPN+.

Watch Alabama Crimson Tide vs Florida Gators live on ESPN+

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