The Southeastern Conference hosted its annual women’s basketball media day on Wednesday, and the No. 24-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide were represented by head coach Kristy Curry and returning starters Sarah Ashlee Barker and Aaliyah Nye.
This season is the first time in 25 years that Alabama has been ranked, generating a lot of conversation at media day. Curry said she has “never put much thought” into preseason rankings but believes it shows the program’s progress. Other players like Barker have adopted this mentality.
“I think you just give a lot of gratitude, and then you also just understand that it doesn’t really matter what they rank you at the beginning of the season,” Barker said.
On Monday, Barker was named to the preseason All-SEC first team for the 2024-25 season. She racked up numerous impressive accolades last season, including earning first team All-SEC honors, surpassing 1,000 career points and averaging 16.8 points per game, a 10-point improvement from 2022-23.
“A lot of people were asking what I did between my junior and senior year, and I just kind of looked at them and said I didn’t do anything different,” Barker said. “I’ve always been the same person that’s working hard. I’ve always been the person that’s going to get in the gym. It was all about my mindset.”
Alabama is returning eight players from the 2023-24 season, including three starters. The Crimson Tide has also welcomed three transfers and three freshmen into the program.
Besides Barker, Nye is another key piece of the puzzle for the Crimson Tide. She currently holds the program record for most 3-pointers made in a single season.
At the podium, Curry explained why she thinks Nye is the best 3-point shooter in the nation.
“She’s the best returning shooter in the nation because she gets in the gym and constantly shoots,” Curry said. “I have a lot of little girls that will say ‘how do I become a good shooter?’ It’s what you do when no one is watching. … Aaliyah has as special of a repetition and routine in her forte as anyone I’ve ever been around.”
Despite the fact that guards Jessica Timmons and Reychel Douglas are going to miss the upcoming season due to injury, Curry said that the Crimson Tide has a lot of depth on its roster.
Curry said that sophomore power forward Essence Cody will have opportunities to showcase her versatility from different areas of the floor because of the addition of transfer Christabel Ezumah alongside returning bigs Naomi Jones and JeAnna Cunningham.
Another reason the Crimson Tide’s roster is deep is the early development shown by its true freshmen.
Nye highlighted that freshmen Eris Lester, Chloe Spreen and Leah Brooks have impressed her, and she said she enjoys what they bring to practice every day.
Alabama women’s basketball guard Aaliyah Nye discusses what she’s seen from the Crimson Tide’s incoming freshmen Eris Lester, Chloe Spreen and Leah Brooks. @CWsports pic.twitter.com/MkkyY5OhQw
— Matthew Mason (@MatthewMason__) October 16, 2024
Alabama will open the regular season in Coleman Coliseum against New Orleans on Nov. 4 at 5:00 p.m. C.T. The game will air on SEC Network+.
