UW-Stevens Point athletics photo

Guard - Sam Barber
UW-Stevens Point
2010 - 2013

All-American selections: 2012 (2nd), 2013 (1st)

All-Region selections: 2012 (1st), 2013 (Player of the Year)

Conference MVPs: 2012, 2013

Other honors: 2013 WBCA Player of the Year

NCAA Tournament appearances: 2011 (Sweet 16), 2012 (Second Round), 2013 (Second Round)

• From the archives
  Barber's career night nets Pointers another title (Feb. 2013)
  Barber reaches 1,000 point milestone (Jan. 2013)
  Barber, UWSP crush top-ranked Calvin (Nov. 2012)

What others say: "Athletes don’t come along often like Sam Barber.  She was a coach’s dream; her ability to score in multiple ways was so much fun to watch.  Sam’s dedication to the game was outstanding.  I could always find her in Berg Gym working on her craft." -- Shirley Egner, UW-Stevens Point head coach

In their own words: "I dropped a big scholarship to play D3 basketball and it was one of the scariest decisions of my life. But to this day, it was still the best decision I made because I was given the opportunity to be the best I can be with my teammates, coaches and family. Moving forward in life I know that decisions are difficult and scary a lot of times but everything happens for a reason...so follow your heart."

Where are they now: Football player in the WFA and carpenter

Career synopsis: The WIAC is one of the toughest conferences in the country. Multiple ranked teams often battle for the top spot, and having home court does not ensure victory. That's what makes UW-Stevens Point's run of six consecutive WIAC tournament titles from 2008 through 2013 so impressive, and Sam Barber was a big reason for that run.

After playing one season at Division II Winona State, Barber transferred to Stevens Point where she became a 1,000 point scorer and shot over 43 percent from three. As a sophomore, Barber was the top-scoring reserve on the Stevens Point squad that completed the rare undefeated run through the WIAC's regular and postseason. She moved into the starting lineup as a junior and became the top player in the conference, leading the Pointers in points, rebounds and three-point shooting. Her senior season was even better as she upped her scoring and rebounding averages and also led the team in steals. Barber's last game against a conference opponent may have been her best. She scored 34 points in 40 minutes in the Pointers' 76-71 overtime win over UW-Whitewater in the WIAC title game.

In 2013 the Women's Basketball Coaches Association selected Barber as its Player of the Year. "When I recieved that award, it was totally unexpected," Barber recalls. "I never played for awards. I played because basketball has always been my heart and soul. My coaches saw potential in me that I didn't see in myself. If it weren't for them or my teammates, my life path would have been totally different. UWSP and D3 basketball were a gift to me and I'm so thankful to have had that opportunity."

That award also set in motion a second athletic career for Barber. While playing a season of semipro basketball in St. Louis, she also started playing football. She eventually moved back north to Minnesota and started playing wide receiver for the Minnesota Vixen in the Women's Football Association. Barber has found success there, too. She won the team's MVP award as a rookie in 2017.