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PAGE 3B November 2025
BARKER SIGNS WITH ATHLETES UNLIMITED - Former Alabama women’s basketball guard and current Los Angeles Spark, Sarah Ashlee Barker, has signed with Athletes Unlimited (AU) Pro Basketball for the 2026 season. AU Pro Basketball will tip off its fifth championship season on Feb. 4, 2026, at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, TN and will run until Feb. 28. The competition features a fast-paced, full-court, 5-on- 5 format with an innovative scoring system where every player can lose or win points during each game. Barker was Alabama’s 9th overall draft pick in program history after being selected by the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2025 WNBA Draft. She competed in 34 of the Sparks’ 44 games during her rookie season, making seven starts. Barker earned a career-high 15 points in the last regular season game on Sept. 11. She played for the Crimson Tide from 2022-25, becoming the program’s record holder for most points in a game (45) during UA’s NCAA Second Round game versus Maryland (March 24, 2025). She also became the fifth player in Alabama history to surpass 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 250 assists. ALABAMA DUO HEADED TO EUROPE - Former Alabama women’s basketball players, JeAnna Cunningham and Christabel Ezumah have both have signed professional contracts in Europe. For the 2025-26 season, Cunningham signed with ZKK Budućnost Bemax in Podgorica, Montenegro, while Ezumah will compete with the Spanish Women’s LF2 League team, AD Cortegada, in Vilagarcía de Arousa, Spain. All five of the Crimson Tide’s 2025 graduates have now signed professional contracts, with Sarah Ashlee Barker (Los Angeles Sparks) and Aaliyah Nye (Las Vegas Aces) competing in the WNBA, and Zaay Green (Kibirkštis Vilnius) joining Cunningham and Ezumah overseas. BACKYARD BRAWL FOOTBALL SERIES - The University of Pittsburgh and West Virginia University have added four future football games beginning in 2033. After a three- season break, the series is slated to resume in 2029. The Panthers and Mountaineers are now scheduled to meet annually from 2029–36 in a continuing home-and-home format. Pitt will host in 2029, 2031, 2033 and 2035. The Backyard Brawl is not only one of college football’s most colorful rivalries, but also one of the oldest. The inaugural game was played in 1895. The 108th meeting between to two powerhouse programs took place earlier this year, with West Virginia earning a 31-24 overtime victory. PURDUE VS. TENNESSEE BASKETBALL - – The Purdue and Tennessee men’s basketball programs have agreed to a home-and-home series beginning in the 2026-27 season. The Boilermakers and Volunteers will start the series in West Lafayette on Dec. 12, 2026, in Mackey Arena, with a return trip to Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville on Dec. 11, 2027. It marks the second known game of next season as the Boilermakers will make a trip to Iowa State during the 2026-27 campaign. Since the start of the 2021-22 season, Purdue has been ranked in the AP Top 10 in 62 weeks (2nd most), while Tennessee is at 50 weeks (5th most). Purdue leads the all-time series with Tennessee by a 5-2 margin, having won three straight games with the Volunteers, including an Elite Eight matchup in 2024. Two of Purdue’s last three wins against Tennessee have come in the NCAA Tournament (Sweet 16 in 2019; Elite Eight in 2024), and in four of the last five meetings (dating to Nov. 2009), the two teams were ranked in the top 13 at the time of the contest. UAB VS. SAMFORD BASKETBALL - – The UAB Department of Athletics has announced a three-game series between cross-town rivals UAB and Samford, beginning with the 2026-27 season. The Blazers and Bulldogs will square off at Bartow Arena in 2026-27, before the series shifts across town to the Pete Hanna Center in 2027-28. The third and final matchup of the agreement returns to Bartow Arena for the 2028- 29 season. The two teams last met during the 2009-2010 season, when UAB claimed a 55-52 victory in Kent, Ohio. The programs first played in 1981, with UAB holding a 4-0 advantage in the all-time series. Samford brought in Lennie Acuff to take over for Bucky McMillan who moved on to Texas A&M at the end of last season. The Bulldogs finished last season with a 22-11 record last year receiving an invitation to the NIT. Both teams have established themselves as consistent winners, with UAB coming off four straight postseason appearances and Samford rising to prominence in the Southern Conference. The upcoming matchups promise to deliver electric atmospheres and high-level basketball in Birmingham. Game dates and times for each matchup will be announced at a later date. 2028 WOMEN'S FINAL FOUR – The Division I Women's Basketball Committee has voted to change to a larger venue for the 2028 Women's Final Four, moving the event to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The committee also voted to continue with the current preliminary-round format through the 2031 championship. "Moving the 2028 Women's Final Four to Lucas Oil Stadium will allow for more access for our fans, and it represents the continued growth of the sport," said Amanda Braun, director of athletics at Milwaukee and chair of the committee. "With the interest we have seen, holding the Women's Final Four in a larger venue in Indianapolis is a natural next step." The Women's Final Four continues to sell out, and the public demand for tickets has steadily increased. With the move from Gainbridge Fieldhouse to Lucas Oil Stadium, the event will gain approximately 13,000 seats. The 2028 Women's Final Four weekend in Indianapolis will also include the Division II and III championships. "We are thrilled to see the Women's Final Four return to an active NFL stadium for the first time in over two decades when it takes the floor in Indianapolis in 2028," said Patrick Talty, president of the Indiana Sports Corp. "This stage not only elevates the experience for student-athletes, coaches and fans but also reflects the remarkable growth and momentum of women's basketball. Indianapolis continues to innovate with events like the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials inside Lucas Oil Stadium, and hosting this championship further cements our vision to make Indiana the women's sports capital of the world." BULL RIDING EVENT SET FOR FSU FOOTBALL STADIUM – The PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Unleash The Beast will transform Florida State University’s Doak S. Campbell Stadium for the first time ever into a massive bull riding and entertainment arena, as PBR brings two days of bucking action and concerts to Tallahassee March 13-14, 2026, for the 13th of 18 events in the 2026 premier individual tour regular season. For two electrifying nights, the world’s best bull riders will go head- to-head against the fiercest animal athletes on the planet in a series of jaw-dropping, unpredictable 8-second showdowns. As a PBR Major, PBR Florida State at Doak offers higher stakes with more points toward the season-long championship and a $200,000 prize purse on the line. After the bull riding, each night will conclude with a high-energy concert featuring a major music act to be announced soon. To transform Doak into a bull riding mecca, PBR will truck in 5.5 million pounds of dirt to cover roughly 30,000 square feet along with additional sound, video and lighting to cover a football field – for a production more than three times the size of a traditional elite tour event. FLORIDA SOCCER SEEKING NEW COACH – The University of Florida has announced that Samantha Bohon will not return as head coach of the Gator soccer program. A national search for the next head coach will begin immediately. Bohon just completed her fourth season at Florida. She posted an 18-34-18 mark, including 5-23-12 mark in conference action. Bohon came to Florida after a 15 year stint at Emory Riddle and had spent four years as an assistant coach at Tennessee and two at Duke. ALABAMA SOFTBALL SIGNS FIVE – Five high school seniors signed their National Letter of Intent with Alabama softball Wednesday, November 12, 2025 as part of National Signing Day for the class of 2026. The group will join the Crimson Tide next fall ahead of the 2027 softball season. The class is ranked No. 11 nationally by both Softball America and D1 Softball. The Players include: • AVA BRISKI (5’6” – INFIELD – PHOENIX, AZ – DESERT VISTA HIGH SCHOOL) • AVA BUSH (5’7” – OUTFIELD – COLUMBIA, MO – ROCK BRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL) • LIV KEITER (5’5” – UTILITY – LITTLETON, CO – COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL) • TORYNN SLAUGHTER (5’10” – CATCHER – PHOENIX, AZ. – PINNACLE HIGH SCHOOL) • PAIGE STANFIELD (5’10” – INFIELD – OVERLAND PARK, KS. – SHAWNEE EAST) Athletic News & Notes
Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger Crossville's Noah Causey attempts to make a play for the Lions, as West End's Denver Rhoden (#24) defends. Crossville defeated the visiting Patriots 57-36.
Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
West End's Hayden Graham (#14) and Cody Campbell (#3) during the Patriots recent game at Crossville.
Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
REAL ESTATE AUCTION Estate of Hazel Hobson Saturday, November 29, 2025 at 10:00 AM (CDT) 6180 County Road 71, Centre, Alabama Crossville's Melanie Garcia goes after the basketball during the Lions game against West End on Nov. 11. Crossville lost the game 45-5.
1,500 ± sq ft brick home featuring 3 BR, 1 BA, on a 0.51 ± acre lot with a fenced backyard. Visit www.swaffordauctiongroup.com for terms, pictures and more information.
R. Shane Swafford ASL#1589 GANR#2635 1008 West Main Street Centre, AL 35960 Phone: 256.927.8900 or Toll Free: 877.222.5720 www.swaffordauctiongroup.com
Previews: November 13th and 20th from 4 to 6 p.m. You may also call our office for a preview of this property.
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