Alabama
Ashley Priess-Johnston Named Head Coach of Alabama Gymnastics
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Ashley Priess-Johnston is coming house.
The previous Alabama gymnast was introduced because the Crimson Tide’s subsequent gymnastics head coach Monday night. Johnston will likely be formally launched at a press convention on Friday.
She replaces Dana Duckworth who stepped down as head coach final week.
“We’re past excited to have Ashley Johnston take over the reins of our gymnastics program as our head coach,” Alabama athletics director Byrne stated by way of a launch. “Everybody we have spoken to holds her within the highest regards as a coach, mentor and chief, together with long-time head coach Sarah Patterson, who I’ve had great conversations with throughout this search and I actually respect her help. All through this course of with Ashley, we have been very impressed together with her dedication to the full student-athlete. One of many grittiest and most completed opponents in our program’s proud historical past, she has translated her achievements as a gymnast right into a standout profession as a coach, and we’re thrilled to have her again in Tuscaloosa.”
Johnston was a 10-time All-American and member of back-to-back NCAA Championship groups. She is finest recognized for closing out the 2012 NCAA Championships with a near-perfect stability beam routine to clinch Alabama’s sixth nationwide group title.
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“I’m honored to be trusted as your new head gymnastics coach,” Johnston stated. “Thanks to Greg Byrne and the superb govt group for permitting me to share my imaginative and prescient, ardour and dedication to student-athlete well-being and to the way forward for this storied program. I sit up for reconnecting with each considered one of you. With a really full coronary heart, I need to say, ‘Thanks,’ and ‘Roll Tide!’”
Johnston involves Alabama after spending the previous 4 seasons because the affiliate head coach at Auburn. She helped lead the Tigers to their highest-ever end final yr as Auburn ranked fourth nationally. Throughout her first season at Auburn, she earned WGCA Central Area Assistant Coach of the 12 months. Johnston began her collegiate teaching profession as an assistant at Illinois in 2018, spending one season with this system earlier than shifting to Auburn.
Earlier than shifting into the school ranks, Johnston began her teaching profession on the Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy, the place she labored with CGA head coach Mary Lee Tracy on the Elite and developmental stage, whereas teaching the ground train and stability beam optionally available program.
Johnston is Alabama’s seventh head gymnastics coach since 1974 and third since 1979. The Crimson Tide has gained six NCAA Championships (1988, 1991, 1996, 2002, 2011, 2012), 10 SEC Championships and an NCAA-best 32 regional titles.
Ashley Priess-Johnston
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Alabama Gymnastics Profession
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Alabama softball has a chance to advance to the NCAA Tournament’s super regional round on Sunday. The Crimson Tide is set to face Virginia Tech in the Tuscaloosa regional, needing just one win to move on.
The Tide and Hokies faced off once already, on Saturday, when Alabama won 4-3 in the early game. VT then faced Belmont later in the day, winning 11-1 in six innings to keep its own season alive.
If Alabama wins the first game, the Crimson Tide advances, likely to the Norman super regional. However, if Virginia Tech wins, UA will get another crack at the Hokies later on Sunday.
The first game of Sunday’s action is scheduled to begin at 1:05 p.m. CT at Rhoads Stadium. The matchup will be aired on ESPN+.
Follow along here for live updates once the game begins.
1st inning
— Without a single pitch thrown, the game is already in a lightning delay.
Pregame
— Catelyn Riley will pitch for Alabama. Emma Lemley will start in the circle for Virginia Tech.
— Alabama batting order: Audrey Vandagriff, Lauren Johnson, Kali Heivilin, Marlie Giles, Salen Hawkins, Brooke Ellestad, Mari Hubbard, Abby Duchscherer, Larissa Preuitt.
— VT batting order: Cori McMillan, Jordan Lynch, Zoe Yaeger, Kylie Aldridge, Bre Peck, Emily LeGette, Trinity Martin, Annika Rohs, Rachel Castine.
— Alabama will bat first as the designated road team, despite playing in its home stadium.
Alabama baseball is kicking off the 2025 SEC Baseball Tournament bright and early.
Scheduled to take place from May 20 to May 25 at the Hoover Met, this year marks a historic expansion, featuring all 16 SEC teams for the first time, competing in a single-elimination format.
Alabama enters the tournament as the No. 9 seed, finishing the regular season with a 16–14 conference record and an overall record of 40–15. The Crimson Tide will face No. 16 seed Missouri on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. CT.
If Alabama wins, it will advance to the second round on Wednesday, May 21, to play No. 8 seed Tennessee at 9:30 a.m. CT. A victory in that game would set up a quarterfinal matchup against No. 1 seed Texas on Thursday, May 22, at 3:00 p.m. CT.
Alabama baseball to play Tuesday in first game of 2025 SEC Tournament
The full tournament schedule is as follows:
First Round – Tuesday, May 20:
- Game 1: No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 16 Missouri – 9:30 a.m. CT
- Game 2: No. 12 Oklahoma vs. No. 13 Kentucky – 12:30 p.m. CT
- Game 3: No. 10 Florida vs. No. 15 South Carolina – 4:30 p.m. CT
- Game 4: No. 11 Mississippi State vs. No. 14 Texas A&M – 8:00 p.m. CT
Second Round – Wednesday, May 21:
- Game 5: No. 8 Tennessee vs. Winner of Game 1 – 9:30 a.m. CT
- Game 6: No. 5 Georgia vs. Winner of Game 2 – 12:30 p.m. CT
- Game 7: No. 7 Ole Miss vs. Winner of Game 3 – 4:30 p.m. CT
- Game 8: No. 6 Auburn vs. Winner of Game 4 – 8:00 p.m. CT
Quarterfinals – Thursday, May 22 to Friday, May 23
- Game 9: No. 1 Texas vs. Winner of Game 5 – Thursday, May 22, 3:00 p.m. CT
- Game 10: No. 4 Vanderbilt vs. Winner of Game 6 – Thursday, May 22, 6:00 p.m. CT
- Game 11: No. 2 Arkansas vs. Winner of Game 7 – Friday, May 23, 3:00 p.m. CT
- Game 12: No. 3 LSU vs. Winner of Game 8 – Friday, May 23, 6:00 p.m. CT
Semifinals – Saturday, May 24:
- Game 13: Winner of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 10 – 12:00 p.m. CT
- Game 14: Winner of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 12 – 3:00 p.m. CT
Championship – Sunday, May 25:
- Game 15: Winner of Game 13 vs. Winner of Game 14 – 2:00 p.m. CT
All games will be broadcast on SEC Network, with the championship game airing on ESPN2
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
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.
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