Sparks Find Their Spark: Los Angeles Selects Sarah Ashlee Barker with Ninth Pick in 2025 WNBA Draft

The Los Angeles Sparks went into the 2025 WNBA Draft looking for a game-changer—someone who could help reignite the flame of a proud franchise seeking to climb back into championship contention. With the No. 9 overall pick, they may have found just that in Alabama star Sarah Ashlee Barker, a versatile, fearless guard-forward hybrid with a reputation for grit, leadership, and a relentless motor.

It was a moment years in the making for Barker, whose journey to the professional ranks has been anything but conventional. Hailing from a sports-oriented family—her father, Jay Barker, is a former Alabama quarterback and her brother Braxton Barker also played football for the Crimson Tide—Sarah Ashlee carved out her own legacy on the hardwood. Now, she’ll take that intensity, athleticism, and high basketball IQ to Los Angeles, where the Sparks are looking for new cornerstones around which to build their future.

In her final collegiate season at Alabama, Barker averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game while shooting over 47% from the field. But the numbers only begin to tell the story. Barker brought an edge to the Crimson Tide lineup—an edge that came from years of playing under pressure, responding to adversity, and growing into a role that required both leadership and sacrifice.

Throughout her time at Alabama, Barker made a name for herself as a two-way competitor. She could guard multiple positions, crash the boards, and make hustle plays that didn’t always show up on the stat sheet but often changed the course of a game. Whether it was diving for loose balls, boxing out bigger forwards, or locking down elite scorers on the perimeter, Barker always found ways to make her presence felt.

The Sparks were well aware of that when they were on the clock Monday night. In a draft loaded with frontcourt talent and offensive firepower, Barker offered something unique—a plug-and-play wing who can impact both ends of the floor and fit into any system. Head coach Curt Miller, entering another year at the helm of the Sparks’ rebuild, praised Barker’s tenacity, toughness, and mental makeup shortly after the pick was announced.

“We loved Sarah Ashlee’s competitiveness and her commitment to doing the little things,” Miller said. “She’s a winner. She’s the kind of player you want in your locker room and on the court in crunch time. She plays with a chip on her shoulder, and that fits exactly what we’re trying to build here in L.A.”

That chip on her shoulder comes in part from her path to this point. Barker began her college career at Georgia before transferring to Alabama, where she emerged as one of the SEC’s most respected competitors. The conference is known for its physicality and depth, and Barker thrived in that setting, earning All-SEC honors and playing a key role in Alabama’s rise to national relevance.

Her decision to declare for the draft wasn’t a surprise to those who’d watched her closely over the past two seasons. The buzz around Barker intensified during the SEC Tournament, where she helped lead Alabama to multiple key wins and showed scouts that she could not only score and defend, but also set the tone emotionally for her team.

By the time the combine and pre-draft evaluations rolled around, Barker had firmly cemented herself as a late-lottery talent with upside, maturity, and versatility. While she may not have entered the draft with the same spotlight as some of the bigger-name prospects, it was clear that several teams—including the Sparks—valued her intangibles just as much as her skills.

Los Angeles, in particular, saw in Barker the kind of player who could thrive in a competitive locker room while also helping shape the next generation of Sparks culture. With veterans like Nneka Ogwumike having moved on, the team is looking for new leaders, new energy, and a renewed sense of purpose. Barker fits that mold.

For Barker, the moment was emotional. Dressed in Alabama crimson with her family surrounding her, she took the call from the Sparks with tears in her eyes and a smile that beamed across the room. It was a moment of validation, of arrival, and of anticipation all rolled into one.

“It’s hard to put it into words,” Barker said. “I’ve worked so hard for this. I’ve had so many people believe in me, and to hear my name called—to know I’m going to the WNBA, going to a team like the Sparks—it means everything. I’m ready to get to work.”

Work has never been an issue for Barker. Her college coaches regularly praised her tireless effort in practices and games alike. At Alabama, she was often the first one in the gym and the last one out. She studied film, asked questions, and set an example for younger teammates. That same mindset is expected to serve her well in the WNBA, where competition is fierce and roles are earned—not given.

Though she projects primarily as a wing in the professional game, Barker’s ability to shift between guard and forward roles gives Miller flexibility in how he wants to use her. She can serve as a defensive stopper, a secondary ball-handler, and an off-ball cutter who keeps the offense flowing. Her mid-range game is polished, and she’s improved her three-point shooting considerably over the past year—something Sparks coaches will look to develop even further as she transitions to the pro level.

Beyond the X’s and O’s, Barker is already being seen as a potential fan favorite. Her authenticity, passion, and no-nonsense attitude resonate with fans looking for players who bring their full selves to the game. In a city like Los Angeles, where stars are born and legends are made, Barker brings a grounded intensity that could be exactly what the Sparks need.

The Sparks finished near the bottom of the league standings last season, hampered by injuries and inconsistency. But the front office has made it clear that the rebuild is underway, and Barker is a foundational piece of that puzzle. Alongside other recent draft picks and emerging talents, she’ll have the opportunity to grow into a key role quickly.

For longtime Sparks supporters, Barker’s selection represents more than just another draft pick. It’s a signal that the franchise is focused on toughness, culture, and long-term development. It’s a nod to the blue-collar excellence that once defined the Sparks in their championship runs. And it’s a bet on a player who might not have been the flashiest name in the draft, but who could prove to be one of the most impactful.

There’s still work to be done in Los Angeles. The roster remains a mix of youth and uncertainty, and the Western Conference is as stacked as ever. But with Barker in the fold, the Sparks have added a competitor—a tone-setter—who won’t back down from the challenge.

The WNBA has seen an influx of elite talent in recent years, and the 2025 class continues that trend. Yet while headlines may focus on the top few picks, it’s often the late lottery and mid-round selections who end up defining draft classes. Sarah Ashlee Barker has the tools, the mindset, and the opportunity to do just that.

And in the City of Angels, she now has the stage to match.