SEC Media Day: Returning Senior Guard’s Aaliyah Nye and Sarah Barker

As the anticipation builds for the upcoming college basketball season, Southeastern Conference Media Day provided a platform for some of the brightest stars in women's basketball to share their thoughts and experiences.

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Among them were Aaliyah Nye, the top returning 3-point shooter in the country, and Sarah Ashlee Barker, another vital piece in the success of the Tide.

Nye is on the path to becoming a household name in collegiate basketball, thanks to her shooting prowess. Last season, Nye was among the top 3-point shooters in the country. She reflected on her journey, “I have always enjoyed college basketball. I feel like everybody brings their best and they want to play for something. Then someone that I looked up to when I was younger, Skylar Dickens. I love her toughness and the way she plays.”

The Tide boasts a stellar roster this season. Nye is optimistic in her team and praised them for their hard work, saying, “We're going to come out there and put on our best show. I believe we are going to be a defensive presence and going to be tough in order to win.”

Nye's confidence on the court is palpable, and she is determined to continue to build her successful resume. With her strong work ethic and commitment to her craft, she will remain a great leader to her team.

Joining Nye on the podium was Barker, whose enthusiasm for the evolution of women's basketball was evident. Barker spoke passionately about the growth of the sport, saying, “I think that across the whole world, women's basketball itself is really growing. You see all the records being broken in the WNBA with viewership and viewership for the NCAA tournament last year. I think just there's so much excitement that girls can go out and be gritty, be tough, be who they want to be every single day. I think that it's the opportunities that girls are getting every single day in and day out. There's just a lot of opportunity that girls are nowadays are getting at a young age.”

One of the most significant topics of discussion was the Tide being ranked for the first time since the 1999 preseason. Barker couldn't hide her excitement at the accomplishment but emphasized the importance of the finishing mentality, “I think at first you're grateful just because we haven't been ranked since 1999 preseason. 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. It's not where you start, it's where you finish and that's what all of us have for our mindset.”

As the Tide continues to work ahead of their first matchup, fans and critics alike can expect greatness and grit for the 2024-2025 season.