Here are some facts that fans might not know about each Alabama women’s basketball player ahead of the NCAA tournament second round matchup against Maryland.
Aaliyah Nye — guard
Nye owns the all-time program record for most 3-pointers made, and it only took her three seasons to do it.
Last Saturday, Nye converted four triples to break her own single-season program record for most triples, which she captured last season.
Nye is a proud tribal citizen of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan. When she was a freshman at Illinois, she said she was grateful to have the tribe in her life, adding that it is “just like a second family.”
Sarah Ashlee Barker — guard
Barker was named to the All-SEC first team for the second straight season. She is one of five players in program history to surpass 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 250 assists.
She was sidelined for three weeks in January because of a leg injury but returned to action against Vanderbilt on Jan. 26 and scored a career-high 36 points.
Barker loves ice cream, and after every victory, the entire Alabama women’s basketball team is treated to it.
“If you know me, you know ice cream is my thing, and I eat it every single day,” Barker said, adding that her go-to flavor is chocolate.
Karly Weathers — guard
Weathers grew up around a family of athletes: Her father, David, was a former 18-year MLB pitcher; her mother, Kelli, played collegiate basketball at Belmont; and her brother, Ryan, currently pitches for the Miami Marlins.
Weathers is also a nursing student. This year, she began working with the nursing programs at The University of Alabama and Druid City Hospital.
Zaay Green — guard
Green is in her seventh and final year of eligibility. Before transferring to Alabama this offseason, Green played at Tennessee (2018-20), Texas A&M (2020-21) and Arkansas Pine-Bluff (2021-2024).
Although she has played seven seasons, Green has never played in the NCAA tournament. On Saturday, she got to start in her tournament debut versus Green Bay, scoring 22 points and dishing out five assists.
Diana Collins — guard
Collins transferred from Ohio State to Alabama last offseason. She is the Crimson Tide’s sixth man and comes off the bench earlier and more often than other reserves.
Collins played for Team Sweden in the FIBA U20 European Championship in 2023 and averaged 16 points.
Essence Cody — forward
Cody has built a strong relationship with assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Pauline Love this season. This is Love’s first year with the team, and she coaches the forwards and centers during Alabama’s practices.
Head coach Kristy Curry said that Cody’s smile is one of the best things about her. Cody said she always cracks a smile when hearing Love’s playlist on the speakers during practice.
“It’s always the church music that gets me,” Cody said.
Christabel Ezumah — forward
Before transferring to Alabama in the offseason, Ezumah played four seasons at Campbell University.
Ezumah is often referred to as “CB,” a nickname her teammates and coaches gave her.
JeAnna Cunningham — center
Cunningham was named to the 2025 SEC Women’s Basketball Community Service Team this season.
Cunningham frequently visits the Boy & Girls Club and the West Alabama Food Bank to give back to the young adults and families of Tuscaloosa and surrounding areas. She has also volunteered with the Temporary Emergency Services of West Alabama, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals and families in crisis.
Chloe Spreen — guard
Spreen is one of the most-followed Alabama student athletes on social media. She has over 100,000 followers on TikTok and over 98,000 followers on Instagram.
Her recruitment and profile rose through high school as she participated in events such as the 2023 Overtime Elite Women’s Basketball Takeover, the 2023 Nike World Basketball Festival and the 2023 SLAM Summer Summer Classic Vol. 5 at Rucker Park.
Eris Lester — guard
Before deciding on a career in basketball, Lester did dance and ballet as a child. She also played tag football with her cousins. It wasn’t until the fifth grade that she started to take basketball seriously.
Not all women’s basketball players can dunk, but Lester can. In the preseason, Lester showcased her dunking ability on an Instagram video by slamming down an alley-oop with one hand. This video generated over 800,000 views.
Leah Brooks — forward
Brooks is from Toney, Alabama. She attended Hazel Green High School and won four straight AHSAA 6A State Championships from 2021 to 2024.
Some of her hobbies include drawing, painting and building with Legos.
Jessica Timmons — guard
Timmons says she likes creating video content outside of basketball, whether for YouTube or working with the Crimson Tide production team.
After college, she wants to be a sports agent, and she dreams of meeting agent Nicole Lynn, the president of the football operation for Klutch Sports Group.
Reychel Douglas — guard
Douglas is another player from an athletic family. Her father, Ray, ran track at NC State. Her sister, Reiven, plays basketball at Quinnipiac, and her cousin, Will Felton, plays basketball at Arizona State.
Naomi Jones — forward
In high school, Jones was one of 12 student-athletes representing the Yellowhammer State in the 2023 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Basketball Classic.
Her brother, Darron, plays football at UAB.
