Alabama women's basketball falls to Texas in March Madness, but the future remains bright in Tuscaloosa
Alabama women's basketball's best season under coach Kristy Curry ended on Sunday with a loss to Texas in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
The Crimson Tide finish the 2023-24 season at 24-10, two players selected to All-SEC teams, first 10-win SEC season since 1997-98, another 20+ win season and a freshman selected to the All-Freshman team in the SEC. It was Alabama's third straight 20+ win season, the first since 1998-99.
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With Alabama's season now complete, the road to the 2024-25 season officially begins and all eyes are on the statuses of the three seniors, Sarah Ashlee Barker, Aaliyah Nye and Loyal McQueen. All three are still eligible to return to Tuscaloosa for fifth years but it is not yet known if they will or will not.
In the 2024 class, Alabama has nabbed three players. Guard Eris Lester, a four-star from Montverde Academy and the 41st overall recruit, will be one of two new guards joining the Crimson Tide next season. Chloe Spreen, a four-star from Bedford North Lawrence high school in Indiana and the 46th overall recruit, will join Lester atop Alabama's recruiting class in 2024.
Alabama also nabbed its first in-state recruit, Leah Brooks, a forward out of Hazel Green High School in Huntsville, Ala. The 6-foot-3 athlete is a three-time 6A state champion.
On top of recruiting, Alabama has also done a ton of work throughout the transfer portal in recent seasons, acquiring four starters in 2023-24 via the portal.
Some key names to watch for the Crimson Tide in the transfer portal are guard Zennia Thomas out of Kentucky, forward Sanya Jah out of South Carolina, forward Bailey Gilmore out of Vanderbilt and guard Anja Bukvic out of Louisiana Tech.
If the three leading seniors for Alabama depart, the Crimson Tide will be looking at Essence Cody and Jessica Timmons as its new leaders, along with Karly Weathers, who will be entering her junior season at Alabama.
Despite the loss in the tournament, the future remains bright for the Crimson Tide after its best season in 32 years.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: What's next for Alabama women's basketball after NCAA Tournament loss?
