Former UA Women's Basketball Standout Named GM For Birmingham Squadron

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Former University of Alabama women's basketball standout Leslie Claybrook has been named the next general manager for the Birmingham Squadron of the NBA G League.

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Prior to her promotion, Claybrook served as general manager of business operations for the Squadron, which is the G League affiliate of the NBA's New Orleans Pelicans.

A product of Saint James School in Montgomery where she played for coach Linda Funderburk, Claybrook was named Miss Basketball for the state of Alabama her senior year in 1989 and went on to sign with the Crimson Tide.

A four-year letter winner at Alabama, Claybrook was a member of two teams that made it to the NCAA Tournament, nearly advancing to the Sweet 16 her senior season in 1993.

She went on to begin her coaching career at Mercer University, where she served as an assistant coach, before also being an assistant at Troy.

Claybrook then worked in administration for college athletics at several schools, before eventually being named assistant commissioner of the Southeastern Conference, where she oversaw championship operations and sports administration for women’s basketball, soccer and softball.

The Birmingham Squadron (18-15) came up short during the 2021-2022 campaign, falling in the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the NBA G league playoffs.

The team's full 2022-23 season schedule will be announced this fall.

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