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.

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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.

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.