Latest news with #SarahAshleeBarker
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Paige Bueckers' Teammate Turns Heads With Actions During Dallas Wings Game
Paige Bueckers' Teammate Turns Heads With Actions During Dallas Wings Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Los Angeles Sparks improved to a 3-6 record on Friday by getting past the Dallas Wings by a final score of 93-79. Paige Bueckers, the highly regarded Wings rookie out of UConn, was out of action once again as she remains in concussion protocol, giving the Sparks a significant advantage. Advertisement Late in the third quarter, there was a dirty act that marred this game. DiJonai Carrington, a guard for the Wings, yanked down Sarah Ashlee Barker of the Sparks by the hair. Carrington was called for a loose ball foul, and Ashlee Barker made both of the ensuing free throws to put L.A. ahead 67-53. Fans reacted on X to the play. "You know she gonna do worst to Clark when Fever and Wings match up," one fan wrote. "'If she would have had extensions, they'd have come off.' 😭😬 He's not joking," another user wrote. "Draymond Green of the WNBA," one user quipped. "There's just no justifying this," a fourth user wrote. "Gonna be interesting how she defends this later tonight with 'hustle' and 'passion'" "She's such a loser," a fifth user wrote. "How is she not tossed for that?" another user asked. Carrington ended up with 16 points, four rebounds, four assists and seven turnovers. Ashlee Barker contributed four points, three rebounds, two assists and one steal in 15 minutes. Dallas Wings guard DiJonai Carrington (21).Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Los Angeles had all five of its starters score in double figures. Veteran forward Azura Stevens led the way with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting, plus six rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals. Advertisement The Sparks have been looking to return to respectability after missing the playoffs in each of the last four seasons. They went 8-32 last season, which was the WNBA's worst record, but the offseason acquisition of three-time All-Star guard Kelsey Plum gave them some hope that they could be competitive this year. The Wings, meanwhile, dropped to 1-8 with this loss. They went 9-31 last year, which earned them the right to take Bueckers with the No. 1 pick in this year's draft. Related: Sabrina Ionescu Sends Strong Response After New York Liberty Make History This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kelsey Plum ready to be part of the Sparks culture change
Kelsey Plum is ready "to turn a new leaf" with a revived Sparks team looking to bounce back after a difficult 2024 season. (Ringo Chiu / For The Times) When the Sparks acquired Kelsey Plum, they signaled they were ready to leave last season behind, and at the start of training camp, their newest superstar is making that clear. "With all due respect, we finished last last year, so everything that we did last year was thrown out the window," Plum said Sunday in Torrance, where the Sparks opened training camp. "I was brought here for a reason." Advertisement After another offseason spent rebuilding a once-proud franchise, Plum is leading the charge. She came to L.A. not only to change the team's fortunes on the court with her playmaking ability, but also to bring the leadership she demonstrated during her championship tenure in Las Vegas, helping establish a winning culture. Read more: Sparks' Sarah Ashlee Barker overcame a debilitating condition to become a pro 'It's the turn of a new leaf in a lot of different ways, in leadership and investment in the franchise,' Plum said. 'That's why I decided to come here.' Plum, an All-Star for the third straight season last year, is coming off a top-10 scoring season, averaging 17.8 points per game. But more importantly, she's transitioning from a 27-win team and a WNBA semifinal appearance to a squad that finished with just eight wins and landed in last place in the league. Advertisement But before the Sparks can become a winning team, a cultural shift is necessary, and Plum is spearheading that change by leading by example and uplifting those around her. When players lined up for three-point shooting after sprints, Plum was the first to catch and shoot, setting the tone for the drill. After practice, she stayed on the court, working alongside first-round pick Sarah Ashlee Barker and former first-rounder Cameron Brink, focusing on ball movement and post play. By the end of day one, she's already seeing her efforts take shape, confident that hard work will rise to the top — and her dedication will push her teammates. 'Changing the culture, that's a day-to-day process,' Plum said. 'That's not something that you can rush. There's a lot of young talent…I'm excited about the opportunity, and I'm excited about the potential this team has.' Advertisement Despite being a two-time champion and widely recognized as an "alpha," first-year head coach Lynne Roberts says Plum's leadership style is free of arrogance or ego, driven solely by her sheer competitiveness. As Plum enters a new environment and begins establishing herself with her new teammates, they are already gravitating toward her. Read more: Sparks bolster backcourt, selecting Sarah Ashlee Barker at No. 9 in WNBA draft Roberts is giving Plum the freedom to establish herself as the team leader, allowing her to strike a balance between being a quiet and vocal leader — leading by example with her work ethic while also speaking up when necessary. 'Kelsey is different, and I mean that in the biggest compliment,' Roberts said. 'Just everyone being around her, it's going to elevate them in terms of how they prepare themselves, how they work and how they handle it.' Advertisement The Sparks open camp with 18 players on their roster, only seven returning from last season. Both Roberts and Plum emphasized that the struggles of previous years are in the rearview mirror, making way for a fresh start this training camp with a shared desire to be better. 'The players are eager to get this franchise back where it belongs, and so there's a definite commitment,' Roberts said. 'In conversation I've had, and even today, for them to just play their tails off and compete.' This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sparks' Sarah Ashlee Barker overcame a debilitating condition to become a pro
Sarah Ashlee Barker drives past New Orleans guard Jasmine Jones during a game last season while playing for Alabama. The two-time All-SEC first-team player helped the Crimson Tide reach the second round of the NCAA tournament. (Vasha Hunt / Associated Press) At 13 years old, Sarah Ashlee Barker came close to losing her dream of becoming a WNBA player before it began. Barker was an eighth-grader when she was diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans, a condition that disrupts blood flow to a bone beneath joint cartilage, causing pain and limiting mobility. Advertisement The condition in her left knee required surgery at the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, Ala. Doctors gave her a recovery timeline of nearly a year; but two months later, she received news that the procedure had been unsuccessful. To keep her basketball dreams alive, she would need a more invasive surgery, one that would last more than four hours. "He [Dr. Jeffrey Dugas] told me, 'Hey, this surgery may not work,'" Barker said. "You need to ... be prepared that you may not be able to jump as well, cut as well and be as fast as you used to." On Monday, Barker became the first of three draft picks in the new chapter of Sparks basketball under coach Lynne Roberts. A standout wing at Alabama, she was selected ninth overall after establishing herself as one of the Southeastern Conference's best players. Sarah Ashlee Barker addresses the media during SEC media day. (Mike Stewart / Associated Press) "Thankfully, the surgery did end up working," Barker said. "But I did have those what-ifs in the back of my mind. … I'm just so grateful for one more game or practice. … I almost had it taken away from me." Advertisement A two-time All-SEC first team selection, Barker is coming off a season that saw her stock rise with a stat line of 18.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. However, it wasn't until March Madness that she became a national sensation. Her performance for the Crimson Tide, which helped them reach the tournament's second round, included a program-record 45 points in a tough loss. She did everything she could to make herself an appealing prospect, but heading to L.A. wasn't a guarantee. Most believed Barker could land anywhere from No. 7 to No. 15, given the depth of wings and guards projected in that range — a projection that matched what she was hearing from teams. Her draft night could have gone in several directions, but she made it clear in interviews her willingness to "do the little things and be OK with that" — a final pitch that worked in her favor. This mindset is what led Sparks general manager Raegan Pebley and Roberts to make Barker their primary target. She was the player they wanted, something Barker could feel during their pre-draft conversations. Advertisement "When I met with them, something just felt right in my heart," Barker said. "I told my mom, I was like, 'Something just feels different with L.A., something just feels right.' "[It was] refreshing that, as much as I wanted to go and play for L.A., they wanted me as well," she said. Read more: Sparks bolster backcourt, selecting Sarah Ashlee Barker at No. 9 in WNBA draft Not only did Sparks want Barker to round out their revamped roster, but they also needed her to fill a void in their rotation. So much so that they may have selected the fiery, aggressive playmaker — capable of defending and scoring — earlier than anticipated. Advertisement Roberts' conversations with Barker about her role in the new "positionless" scheme were open and direct, setting clear expectations for the 23-year-old. The focus is on playing fast, with Barker contributing defensively — a strength she takes pride in — and in rebounding. Roberts also expects Barker to confidently take ownership of her scoring when the opportunity arises, whether from the perimeter or driving to the basket. "We hit it off right away," Barker said of her early conversations with Roberts. "It just felt safe. … She felt very safe to talk to, someone that I can definitely confide in." Beyond her new coach, Barker has already begun receiving guidance from her new teammates. Advertisement Dearica Hamby, who was in New York for the draft, snapped a photo with Barker minutes after her selection. A few days earlier, Barker had caught up with former SEC rival Rickea Jackson, someone in her position just a year ago. To top it off, Barker received a welcome call from Kelsey Plum, the Sparks' newest superstar and future backcourt mate. "She called me yesterday, and she was like, 'Hey, just come in and be you,'" Barker said. "'Try to do the little things.' And then she was like, 'Just make sure you're in shape, that's one of the most important things.'" Sarah Ashlee Barker, guarding Baylor's Caitlin Bickle, prides herself on her all-around game, including defense. (Jessica Hill / Associated Press) Impressed by Plum's leadership, Barker is excited about the prospect of playing alongside her — someone she admired growing up. To Barker, Plum is "the best of the best," and she hopes to learn from her and make Plum's job a bit easier. Advertisement The aftermath of her first-round selection has been a whirlwind. Once the draft festivities wrapped up, it was back to business — returning to training as she gears up for the start of camp. Barker will arrive in L.A. on Monday but still hasn't packed up her college apartment in Tuscaloosa. Friends are lending a hand before she heads home to Birmingham, then off to Los Angeles International Airport. "I've never been," Barker said, thinking about the prospect of beach life. "I've really never been to the West Coast, except for just a game, pretty much for college. … I know we're close to the beach. I'm a beach girly." The move will be a major shift in culture and lifestyle for Barker, who grew up in Hoover — a Birmingham suburb with a population of fewer than 100,000. Alabama is all she's ever known, aside from a brief stint in Athens, where she first set out to make a name for herself at the University of Georgia. "That's where I grew up, that's where I'm from, and so for me, that's home," Barker said. "For me, it means everything to me … forever grateful for all the memories and just being able to grow up in a great basketball community." Advertisement Now, her new home is L.A., donning the same purple and gold uniform that an all-time great in her top five women's basketball list, Candace Parker, once wore. She'll take the court at Arena, the house that Kobe Bryant built — a player she reveres, being one of the many young women in basketball carrying on his legacy through the Mamba Mentality. Sarah Ashlee Barker, left, poses for a photo with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after getting drafted by the Sparks with the ninth overall pick. (Pamela Smith / Associated Press) The Sparks' second-round pick, former South Carolina Gamecock Sania Feagin, saw Barker's competitiveness during SEC showdowns. 'To watch her play and go out there and do what she does — just be a dog and have that mentality of staying true to who she is — it's really great to be her teammate,' Feagin said. Advertisement The goal is for Barker to compete for meaningful minutes. The hope is that she will seamlessly fit in with already established All-Stars Hamby and Plum. The dream is that she will join the growing list of young WNBA stars making a mark early in their careers. None of this journey was guaranteed — everything could have been taken away in an instant. She's committed to living in the moment, fully appreciating how far she's come and welcoming the opportunity that lies ahead. "This year is probably the most I've ever been in the present, basketball-wise," Barker said. "Whatever happens is supposed to happen." Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
17-04-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Sparks' Sarah Ashlee Barker overcame a debilitating condition to become a pro
At 13 years old, Sarah Ashlee Barker came close to losing her dream of becoming a WNBA player before it began. Barker was an eighth-grader when she was diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans, a condition that disrupts blood flow to a bone beneath joint cartilage, causing pain and limiting mobility. The condition in her left knee required surgery at the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, Ala. Doctors gave her a recovery timeline of nearly a year; but two months later, she received news that the procedure had been unsuccessful. To keep her basketball dreams alive, she would need a more invasive surgery, one that would last more than four hours. 'He [Dr. Jeffrey Dugas] told me, 'Hey, this surgery may not work,'' Barker said. 'You need to ... be prepared that you may not be able to jump as well, cut as well and be as fast as you used to.' On Monday, Barker became the first of three draft picks in the new chapter of Sparks basketball under coach Lynne Roberts. A standout wing at Alabama, she was selected ninth overall after establishing herself as one of the Southeastern Conference's best players. 'Thankfully, the surgery did end up working,' Barker said. 'But I did have those what-ifs in the back of my mind. … I'm just so grateful for one more game or practice. … I almost had it taken away from me.' A two-time All-SEC first team selection, Barker is coming off a season that saw her stock rise with a stat line of 18.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. However, it wasn't until March Madness that she became a national sensation. Her performance for the Crimson Tide, which helped them reach the tournament's second round, included a program-record 45 points in a tough loss. She did everything she could to make herself an appealing prospect, but heading to L.A. wasn't a guarantee. Most believed Barker could land anywhere from No. 7 to No. 15, given the depth of wings and guards projected in that range — a projection that matched what she was hearing from teams. Her draft night could have gone in several directions, but she made it clear in interviews her willingness to 'do the little things and be OK with that' — a final pitch that worked in her favor. This mindset is what led Sparks general manager Raegan Pebley and Roberts to make Barker their primary target. She was the player they wanted, something Barker could feel during their pre-draft conversations. 'When I met with them, something just felt right in my heart,' Barker said. 'I told my mom, I was like, 'Something just feels different with L.A., something just feels right.' '[It was] refreshing that, as much as I wanted to go and play for L.A., they wanted me as well,' she said. Not only did Sparks want Barker to round out their revamped roster, but they also needed her to fill a void in their rotation. So much so that they may have selected the fiery, aggressive playmaker — capable of defending and scoring — earlier than anticipated. Roberts' conversations with Barker about her role in the new 'positionless' scheme were open and direct, setting clear expectations for the 23-year-old. The focus is on playing fast, with Barker contributing defensively — a strength she takes pride in — and in rebounding. Roberts also expects Barker to confidently take ownership of her scoring when the opportunity arises, whether from the perimeter or driving to the basket. 'We hit it off right away,' Barker said of her early conversations with Roberts. 'It just felt safe. … She felt very safe to talk to, someone that I can definitely confide in.' Beyond her new coach, Barker has already begun receiving guidance from her new teammates. Dearica Hamby, who was in New York for the draft, snapped a photo with Barker minutes after her selection. A few days earlier, Barker had caught up with former SEC rival Rickea Jackson, someone in her position just a year ago. To top it off, Barker received a welcome call from Kelsey Plum, the Sparks' newest superstar and future backcourt mate. 'She called me yesterday, and she was like, 'Hey, just come in and be you,'' Barker said. ''Try to do the little things.' And then she was like, 'Just make sure you're in shape, that's one of the most important things.'' Impressed by Plum's leadership, Barker is excited about the prospect of playing alongside her — someone she admired growing up. To Barker, Plum is 'the best of the best,' and she hopes to learn from her and make Plum's job a bit easier. The aftermath of her first-round selection has been a whirlwind. Once the draft festivities wrapped up, it was back to business — returning to training as she gears up for the start of camp. Barker will arrive in L.A. on Monday but still hasn't packed up her college apartment in Tuscaloosa. Friends are lending a hand before she heads home to Birmingham, then off to Los Angeles International Airport. 'I've never been,' Barker said, thinking about the prospect of beach life. 'I've really never been to the West Coast, except for just a game, pretty much for college. … I know we're close to the beach. I'm a beach girly.' The move will be a major shift in culture and lifestyle for Barker, who grew up in Hoover — a Birmingham suburb with a population of fewer than 100,000. Alabama is all she's ever known, aside from a brief stint in Athens, where she first set out to make a name for herself at the University of Georgia. 'That's where I grew up, that's where I'm from, and so for me, that's home,' Barker said. 'For me, it means everything to me … forever grateful for all the memories and just being able to grow up in a great basketball community.' Now, her new home is L.A., donning the same purple and gold uniform that an all-time great in her top five women's basketball list, Candace Parker, once wore. She'll take the court at Arena, the house that Kobe Bryant built — a player she reveres, being one of the many young women in basketball carrying on his legacy through the Mamba Mentality. The Sparks' second-round pick, former South Carolina Gamecock Sania Feagin, saw Barker's competitiveness during SEC showdowns. 'To watch her play and go out there and do what she does — just be a dog and have that mentality of staying true to who she is — it's really great to be her teammate,' Feagin said. The goal is for Barker to compete for meaningful minutes. The hope is that she will seamlessly fit in with already established All-Stars Hamby and Plum. The dream is that she will join the growing list of young WNBA stars making a mark early in their careers. None of this journey was guaranteed — everything could have been taken away in an instant. She's committed to living in the moment, fully appreciating how far she's come and welcoming the opportunity that lies ahead. 'This year is probably the most I've ever been in the present, basketball-wise,' Barker said. 'Whatever happens is supposed to happen.'
USA Today
15-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Every Alabama women's basketball player selected in 2025 WNBA draft
Every Alabama women's basketball player selected in 2025 WNBA draft On Monday night, the Alabama Crimson Tide women's basketball program saw a total of three players hear their names called in the 2025 WNBA draft. A historic night for the program, this was the first time that Alabama has ever seen three different players selected in one single WNBA draft. This included a player selected in all three rounds of the draft, headlined by a first round, Top 10 overall pick. Here is a look at every Alabama player who was selected in the 2025 WNBA draft Monday night, along with where each will now play professionally next season. Sarah Ashlee Barker, Los Angeles Sparks Barker was Alabama's first player selected Monday night, coming off the board at No. 9 overall in the first round to the Los Angeles Sparks. The guard led the Crimson Tide in scoring this past season at 18.2 points per game to earn First Team All-SEC honors, while also averaging 6.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 2 steals per game on 51.5% shooting from the field, as well as 37.5% from three and 70.9% at the free throw line. Aaliyah Nye, Las Vegas Aces Nye was Alabama's second player to come off the board, selected at pick No. 13 overall by the Las Vegas Aces, the first selection of the second round. The guard had a stellar season for the Crimson Tide in 2024-25, averaging 15.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game on 45.4% shooting from the field, along with 83% at the free throw line, as well as leading the SEC with a 45.5% three-point percentage. Zaay Green, Washington Mystics Lastly, Green was selected with the No. 32 overall pick in the third round by the Washington Mystics. Green also had a solid season in which she averaged 15.7 points, 5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game on 46.7% shooting from the field, as well as 36.1% from three and 65.4% at the free throw line. Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
