Alabama women’s basketball head coach Kristy Curry took the stage on Tuesday at SEC Tipoff 2026 in Birmingham, Alabama. Curry previewed her squad and discussed newcomers, emerging leaders and goals for the season.
Replacing production
Curry’s team will be tasked with replacing the production of former Alabama stars Sarah Ashlee Barker, Aaliyah Nye and Zaay Green.
“We lost 67% of our scoring, 41% of our rebounding and 61% of our assists on a Top 25 offense and defense a year ago, but I’m so excited about what this team can become,” Curry said.
Curry and staff brought in the No. 12 recruiting class per 247Sports’ composite rankings, led by five-star point guard Ace Austin, who was the No. 1 player in Alabama.
Austin led Spring Garden School to two consecutive 1A state championships in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. Curry called Austin “a phenomenal winner.”
“I thought she had one of her best days yesterday,” Curry said of Austin. “She really gets it. She looks to make everyone around her better.”
The program also brought in three transfers in Alancia Ramsey, Ta’Mia Scott and Waiata Jennings.
“I think we all expect them to play an impact role,” Curry said of the incoming transfers. “They’re all three very experienced. They bring some versatility, some energy, all three are really different.”
New leaders stepping up
Barker, Nye and Green were key leaders for Alabama last season, and others will need to fill their shoes.
“Culture never graduates,” Curry said about leadership changes.
Curry brought veterans Karly Weathers, Essence Cody and Jessica Timmons to SEC Tipoff. She praised the three for their efforts thus far as leaders.
“I think all three, in their own way, just continue the tradition of great leaders and great people and great work and great energy that’s come before them,” Curry said.
Weathers has been to three straight NCAA Tournaments and has become a starter for Curry’s team, all while soon earning a degree from the University’s Capstone College of Nursing.
“She’s amazing to watch every day as a leader, because she sets a great example,” Curry said of Weathers.
Reaching heights not seen since 1998
Alabama women’s basketball has not advanced past the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament since the Rick Moody era but has continued to sustain success under Curry, appearing in four of the last five NCAA tournaments.
The team has reached the second round of the tournament the past two seasons, and it is aiming to reach heights not seen since Moody took the program to seven straight appearances, an NCAA Final Four and five consecutive Sweet 16 appearances.
“I think we continue to move the program forward,” Curry said. “We understand nobody expects more of that than I do. We’re working and building and continuing to get better and that’s the goal, right?”
Alabama women’s basketball will host an exhibition matchup with Florida State at Boutwell Auditorium this Thursday, with tipoff slated for noon CT. It will begin its regular season on Nov. 3, hosting Stetson at Coleman Coliseum.
