Sarah Ashlee Barker, who played a limited role for the Los Angeles Sparks as a rookie in 2025, has been a reliable backup guard for the WNBA expansion team Portland Fire in their debut season.
While Barker has yet to start for the franchise, she has brought plenty of excitement to the city. To recall, it was Barker who gave the Fire their first-ever win with a buzzer-beater against the New York Liberty on May 12.
Barker is averaging 9.1 points on an efficient 53.7% shooting, along with 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game. She's also playing nearly 21 minutes per game, establishing herself as a key cog for Portland.
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Is Sarah Ashlee Barker Playing Today in Fire vs. Dream?
As the Fire prepare for a showdown against the equally hot Atlanta Dream on Friday, however, Barker's availability is uncertain.
Portland listed Barker on its injury report as "questionable" because of a right foot injury. It's unknown exactly when Barker suffered the setback since she played her normal minutes in the Fire's win against the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday.
The Fire also didn't provide any information on the severity of the issue.
A questionable status usually indicates that a player has a 50-50 chance of suiting up for a game. That being said, it's safe to assume that Barker's status will be updated closer to tip-off.
If Barker ends up missing the game, the Fire might have to rely more on starting guard Carla Leite and increase her minutes. With backup guard Teja Oblak (quad) also questionable, Karlie Samuelson and developmental contract players Holly Winterburn and Jordan Harrison could get opportunities as well.
