With no Kelsey Plum in Tuesday night’s game against the Storm, rookie Sarah Ashlee Barker stepped into the moment and made it hers. In a game where Los Angeles fell short, Barker rose to the occasion, posting a season-high 12 points and 7 rebounds and giving fans a glimpse of what the future could look like in purple and gold. The Sparks may have lost on the scoreboard, but Barker walked away with a victory of her own: confidence, clarity and momentum she can build on.

Right out the gate, the Alabama standout came out firing, knocking down back-to-back threes to kick off the game. Her signature mix of grit, aggressive defense, and bulldog-like effort continues to make her a tough competitor on the floor. Barker plays with relentlessness, tunnel vision, and a hunger to evolve. And who better to learn from than a seasoned vet like Kelsey Plum?

“She’s been a leader pretty much to me ever since I got to LA. She just has so much experience, so I’m going to listen to anything that she says,” Barker speaks on her rookie-vet connection with Plum. “She’s always telling me to have fun too with the game of basketball.”

KP’s vet experience and leadership not only makes her a vital player to have on a team, but a generous mentor. Even from the sidelines, her voice echoes from offering advice, encouragement, and occasional challenges. Whether she’s talking to teammates, opponents, or referees, her presence is felt from courtside to the suites.

And on Tuesday night, it was Barker’s turn to feel it.

A frustrated Barker started to get in her head during the fourth quarter after consistently missing shots. She understands that learning not to be so hard on herself will take time, and as a rookie, she values every piece of insight veterans are willing to share. In Tuesday’s postgame press conference, Barker admitted that finishing better at the rim is something she’s been especially hard on herself about.

But Plum pulled her in with a simple reminder:

“KP looked at me and was like ‘You’re not intentionally going in to miss. Don’t be mad at yourself for missing it,’” Barker recalled after the game.

It was a lesson in grace and one that Barker took to heart.

True to it, Not New to it

When Commissioner Cathy Engelbert called Sarah Ashlee Barker as the 9th overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, it was a major milestone but not her first. In the second round of the 2025 NCAA Women’s Tournament, Barker dropped 45 points in a double-overtime showdown against Maryland, smashing her previous high of 34 and cementing her name in college basketball history forever.

Even before stepping into the Sparks locker room, Barker made it clear that she was here to learn. Without formally meeting her new team, her words have always been uplifting and her eyes were always set on studying those who came before her.

“LA has such amazing players and I’m so lucky that I get to learn under all of them.” Barker answered during Draft Night. “And just get there [with] the vets and understand how they do their thing.”

Now, nearly two months into her rookie season, she’s putting those words into action with every possession.

Rookie-Vet Connection

From day one, Kelsey Plum has taken Barker under her wing. After some friendly jokes in the locker room about Barker’s “worn-down” shoes, Plum went the extra mile and reached out to New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu herself. The result? Six fresh pairs of Sabrina’s signature sneakers, sent directly from the source. What started as a playful moment became a powerful reminder of the love, leadership, and sisterhood that runs deep in the WNBA.

It is clear that it takes a lot to go from college ball to the big league in a little over a month. But with mentors like Plum and a mindset like Barker’s, the learning curve becomes an opportunity, not a limitation.

Sarah Ashlee Barker is a rising force. And the Sparks are lucky to have her on their side as she writes the next chapter of her already electric journey.