2023-24 Women's Basketball Roster
Cody, Essence

Jersey Number 21
Essence Cody
- Position:
- Forward
- Height:
- 6-4
- Class:
- Freshman
- Hometown:
- Valdosta, Ga.
- High School:
- Valdosta High School
Bio
Career Highlights
- Four-time SEC Freshman of the Week (11/28, 1/30, 2/27, 3/4)
- 2024 SEC All-Freshman Team
2024-25
- Appeared in all 33 contests, while making 32 starts
- One of four Alabama players to average double digit scoring with 11.1 points per game, a 2.8-point improvement from 2023-24
- Led The Crimson Tide with 6.3 rebounds per game
- Led UA in blocks in 21-of-33 games this season
- Scored in double digits in 20-of-33 games
- Tied a career-high five blocks twice; versus Norfolk State (Nov. 13, 2024) and LSU (Feb. 27)
- Led the Crimson Tide in field goal percentage, shooting 53 percent from the floor
2023-24
- Started all 34 games during her freshman year
- Scored 11 points and hauled in eight rebounds with two steals and a block in her collegiate debut versus Alabama State on Nov. 6
- Recorded her first of three career double-doubles (13 points, 11 rebounds) in the loss to Gonzaga on Nov. 25
- Rejected a career-best five shots in Alabama's dominant win over Coastal Carolina on Dec. 6
- Blocked a shot in 12 consecutive games
- Scored a career-high 20 points and 14 rebounds with four blocks in her NCAA Tournament debut against Florida State on March 22
- Scored 10 or more points in 11 games this season
- Hauled in seven or more rebounds in 18 games
- Led the Crimson Tide in rebounding (6.5 rpg) and blocked shots (2.0 bpg)
Prep Highlights
- Invited to the 2023 USA U19 Women's National Team Trials
- 2023 McDonald's All-American and BallisLife All-American
- 2022 and 2023 Naismith Girls High School Player of the Year Watchlist
- 2023 WBCA High School Coaches' All-America honorable mentions team
- 2023 Jersey Mike's Naismith High School Girls All-American honorable mentions team
- The No. 22 recruit in the country and a five-star recruit by ESPNW
- Competed at the 2019 and 2021 BallN Across Borders in Toronto, Canada, and Las Vegas, Nev., respectively
- Invite to the 2022 USA Trials in Colorado Springs, Colo., and the 2022 Under Armour Elite 24 in Chicago, Ill.
- Named the UA Elite 24 MVP
- Invited to the Wootten Camp 150 on multiple occasions
- Selected as the 2021-22 Player of the Year and GACA MVP for 2022 for Valdosta High School
- Was named the 2022 No. 1 post player in Georgia in addition to being ranked a top-five overall player in the state
- Ranked 18th by Prospects Nation and 27th by Blue Star
- Named a WHO's NXT All-American game nominee
Personal
- Born Aug. 17, 2004
- Daughter of Deborah Cody
- Has three sisters, Jayla Cody, Tanisha Goldsboro and Ambria Freeman
- Has one brother, Frederick Freeman
- Sister Jayla plays basketball at Alabama A&M
Kelly Curry Inducted Into the Assistant Coaches Hall of Fame
Tuesday, May 27
NCAA Tournament RD 2 Postgame: Kristy Curry & Sarah Ashlee Barker
Monday, March 24
NCAA Tournament Round 2 Preview: Coach Curry
Sunday, March 23
NCAA Tournament Preview: Zaay Green, Aaliyah Nye & Sarah Ashlee Barker
Sunday, March 23