Aaliyah Nye and Sarah Ashlee Barker to Face Off in WNBA Rivalry

LAS VEGAS -  What used to be a powerful duo for the Alabama women's basketball team will now become a thrilling matchup to see in the WNBA. On Friday night, Aaliyah Nye and Sarah Ashlee Barker will face off against each other for the first time in their professional careers.

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The two were a phenomenal duo for the Crimson Tide, as they both created their own legacy but still managed to be a challenge to stop for most defenses.

In the 2025 WNBA Draft, Barker was drafted in the first round as the No. 9 overall pick by the Los Angeles Sparks, and Nye in the second round as the No. 13 overall pick by the Las Vegas Aces. Since joining their respective squads, they both have been making a name for themselves as rookies.

In the last four Sparks games, Barker has been a starter and has averaged 4.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 23.3 minutes per game. She has been able to spread the ball to put her teammates in place to score, and the organization has much faith in the talented rookie, as she has much upside to her game.

Nye had a standout pre-season game on May 2, where she recorded 17 points, two rebounds, and two assists and received an appreciation post by the Aces organization on X.

Nye has been coming off the bench for the Aces averaging 10.8 minutes a game, 2.5 points, 0.5 rebounds, 0.3 assists, but has also shown upside as she has paired well with the veteran A'ja Wilson.

The two of them facing off for the first time since joining the WNBA should be nothing short of a talented and competitive matchup to witness inside of Michelob ULTRA Arena. Additionally, as former Alabama athletes, they contribute to the rich and competitive tradition the University is known for, consistently producing next-level athletes with an "iron sharpens iron" mentality.

With Nye and Barker transitioning from being a college duo to creating their own lanes in the WNBA, this matchup will be one to see for years to come.

To catch the two in action tonight, stream the game through ION, Fubo, Sling TV, YouTube with the WNBA League Pass, or YouTube TV at 9 p.m. CST.