Alabama Crimson Tide News: Softball gets big win, Sarah Ashlee Barker drafted, more

Alabama Crimson Tide news and notes from Monday, April 15th:

Alabama softball beats Oklahoma, earns crucial series win

Patrick Murphy and Alabama softball have had an up-and-down season. Coming into Monday night's rubber match with No. 2 Oklahoma, the Crimson Tide was 29-16 overall and 6-8 in SEC play. The Tide split the first two games with the Sooners leading to game three on Monday night in Tuscaloosa.

With the game tied 1-1 in the 8th inning, Audrey Vandagriff hit a walk-off homerun down the left field line to lift Alabama to a 2-1 win, earning a critical series win for the home team.

Alabama has now won three of its last four after salvaging one win in the series at LSU last weekend. They have manageable matchups coming up to finish the regular season with a road series in Gainesville against Florida, a home series against Missouri, and a road series at South Carolina.

Sarah Ashlee Barker selected by the LA Sparks with the 9th overall pick

Alabama's Sarah Ashlee Barker was drafted 9th overall on Monday night in the WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. Barker became the third Crimson Tide player ever selected in the 1st round of the WNBA Draft, joining Jasmine Walker (2021) and Tausha Mills (2000).

Barker helped lead the Crimson Tide to the 2nd Round of the NCAA Tournament by averaging 18.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. She had a legendary performance in Alabama's loss to Maryland in the Round of 32, dropping an SEC tournament record 45 points.

Aaliyah Nye selected 13th overall by the Las Vegas Aces

Alabama almost had a second player selected in the 1st Round of the WNBA Draft, with guard Aaliyah Nye being selected with the first pick of the 2nd Round by the Las Vegas Aces. Nye spent three seasons in Tuscaloosa after starting her career at Illinois.

Nye averaged 15.2 points per game for the Tide last season and shot a blistering 45.5% from the three-point line.

In the third round with the 32nd overall pick, the Washington Mystics selected Zaay Green. Three players from Alabama being selected in the same WNBA Draft is a program record.

Labaron Philon declares for the NBA Draft

Alabama freshman guard Labaron Philon declared for the NBA Draft on Monday. The move wasn't unexpected, but with Philon telling ESPN he is "all in" on his pro career, it sounds like he isn't really leaving the door open for a potential return to Tuscaloosa.

Philon was a freshman All-SEC guard and started 29 of 37 games for the Crimson Tide. Nate Oats hoped to retain Philon and have him as the head of the snake next season.

With Philon declaring, Alabama now has three open roster spots to try and fill in the Transfer Portal.

Three Alabama players attending the NFL Draft in Green Bay

Out of the 17 players attending next week's NFL Draft in Green Bay, three are from Alabama. Jalen Milroe had already been announced as accepting an invite, but both Tyler Booker and Jihaad Campbell will be joining him in the green room in Green Bay, the NFL announced:

Alabama will hope to extend its 16-year streak of having at least a single 1st Round pick.