The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
11/11/2026 4:29:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM – UAB women's basketball head coach Randy Norton announced the signing of Ryleigh Martin and Layla Berry to the Blazers' 2027 signing class on Wednesday.
The two signees bring impressive high school careers to UAB, highlighted by multiple All-State honors, scoring milestones and postseason accolades.
Ryleigh Martin | 5-6 | Guard | Trussville, Ala. | Hewitt-Trussville HS
Martin joins the Blazers following a standout high school career in which she surpassed the 1,000-career-point milestone and earned numerous individual honors.
Martin was named to the 2026 7A All-State Team while also earning a spot on the 2026 All-Area Team. She is a three-time All-Tribune Team selection and a two-time All-South Metro Team honoree.
Adding to her list of accomplishments, Martin earned AL.com All-Region recognition and was named to the 2023-24 All-State Tournament Team.
Martin also has a strong connection to the UAB women's basketball program, as she is the daughter of Blazers associate head coach Taren Martin, who is currently in her 14th season with UAB. Ryleigh will continue her basketball career at a program where her mother has spent more than a decade on the coaching staff.
Randy on Ryleigh Martin: "We are thrilled to welcome Ryleigh Martin to our UAB family. Ryleigh is a smart, unselfish point guard who makes the players around her better. She can push the tempo, handle pressure with poise and knock down the three, and she understands the little things that help teams win. Having watched her grow up around our program, it is especially meaningful to see her earn this opportunity and become a Blazer. I know how special this moment is for Taren and their family, and we are excited for Ryleigh to write her own chapter at UAB."
Layla Berry | 5-10 | Wing | Hewitt-Trussville HS | Gardendale, Ala.
Berry comes to Birmingham with an impressive scoring resume, having surpassed 1,800 career points and knocked down more than 200 three-pointers during her high school career.
Last season, Berry averaged 21.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game, showcasing her ability to contribute in multiple areas on the court.
Berry is a three-time All-Area, All-Region and All-State selection, establishing herself as one of the top players throughout her high school career.
Berry also brings a family connection to the Green and Gold, as her mother, Holly Holland-Berry, played for UAB women's basketball from 1996-2000. Berry will look to follow in her mother's footsteps as she continues her basketball career in Birmingham.
Randy on Layla Berry: "We are thrilled to welcome Layla to our UAB family. She is a proven scorer with great size on the perimeter and the ability to stretch defenses with her shooting. What excites us just as much is how she contributes as a rebounder and playmaker. She brings much more than scoring to our program. Her mother, Holly, helped UAB reach the NCAA Tournament, and it is special to see that family connection continues with Layla. We look forward to watching her build her own legacy in a Blazer uniform."
The addition of Martin and Berry brings two accomplished high school standouts to the Blazers' program as UAB continues to build for the future under Norton.
2026-27 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Season tickets for the 2026-27 UAB women's basketball season are on sale now. Season ticket packages include all regular season home games at the newly renovated Bartow Arena and provide the best value. For more information, click here or contact the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-8221. Fans can also request to receive additional information by clicking here.
SINGLE GAME TICKETS AND GROUP PACKAGES AVAILABLE
Single game tickets for the 2026-27 UAB women's basketball season are available now. Individual and corporate groups can also plan a memorable experience during any of UAB's home events at Bartow Arena this season by filling out the UAB Group Ticket Request Form. Fan experience packages and discounted group tickets are available for a minimum purchase of 15 tickets.
SPORT GIFT ACCOUNTS
Sport gift accounts play an integral role in our department mission to Win Championships, Graduate with Honors, and Impact the Community. Your generosity has a direct impact on operational support to our teams in resourcing areas like recruiting, nutrition, player development, and technology. Click here or connect with Blazer Boosters on how you can continue to fuel success and help UAB Athletics create a competitive edge in the American Conference.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
For more information on the UAB women's basketball team, be sure to follow @UAB_WBBALL on X and Instagram.
The two signees bring impressive high school careers to UAB, highlighted by multiple All-State honors, scoring milestones and postseason accolades.
Ryleigh Martin | 5-6 | Guard | Trussville, Ala. | Hewitt-Trussville HS
Martin joins the Blazers following a standout high school career in which she surpassed the 1,000-career-point milestone and earned numerous individual honors.
Martin was named to the 2026 7A All-State Team while also earning a spot on the 2026 All-Area Team. She is a three-time All-Tribune Team selection and a two-time All-South Metro Team honoree.
Adding to her list of accomplishments, Martin earned AL.com All-Region recognition and was named to the 2023-24 All-State Tournament Team.
Martin also has a strong connection to the UAB women's basketball program, as she is the daughter of Blazers associate head coach Taren Martin, who is currently in her 14th season with UAB. Ryleigh will continue her basketball career at a program where her mother has spent more than a decade on the coaching staff.
Randy on Ryleigh Martin: "We are thrilled to welcome Ryleigh Martin to our UAB family. Ryleigh is a smart, unselfish point guard who makes the players around her better. She can push the tempo, handle pressure with poise and knock down the three, and she understands the little things that help teams win. Having watched her grow up around our program, it is especially meaningful to see her earn this opportunity and become a Blazer. I know how special this moment is for Taren and their family, and we are excited for Ryleigh to write her own chapter at UAB."
Layla Berry | 5-10 | Wing | Hewitt-Trussville HS | Gardendale, Ala.
Berry comes to Birmingham with an impressive scoring resume, having surpassed 1,800 career points and knocked down more than 200 three-pointers during her high school career.
Last season, Berry averaged 21.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game, showcasing her ability to contribute in multiple areas on the court.
Berry is a three-time All-Area, All-Region and All-State selection, establishing herself as one of the top players throughout her high school career.
Berry also brings a family connection to the Green and Gold, as her mother, Holly Holland-Berry, played for UAB women's basketball from 1996-2000. Berry will look to follow in her mother's footsteps as she continues her basketball career in Birmingham.
Randy on Layla Berry: "We are thrilled to welcome Layla to our UAB family. She is a proven scorer with great size on the perimeter and the ability to stretch defenses with her shooting. What excites us just as much is how she contributes as a rebounder and playmaker. She brings much more than scoring to our program. Her mother, Holly, helped UAB reach the NCAA Tournament, and it is special to see that family connection continues with Layla. We look forward to watching her build her own legacy in a Blazer uniform."
The addition of Martin and Berry brings two accomplished high school standouts to the Blazers' program as UAB continues to build for the future under Norton.
2026-27 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Season tickets for the 2026-27 UAB women's basketball season are on sale now. Season ticket packages include all regular season home games at the newly renovated Bartow Arena and provide the best value. For more information, click here or contact the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-8221. Fans can also request to receive additional information by clicking here.
SINGLE GAME TICKETS AND GROUP PACKAGES AVAILABLE
Single game tickets for the 2026-27 UAB women's basketball season are available now. Individual and corporate groups can also plan a memorable experience during any of UAB's home events at Bartow Arena this season by filling out the UAB Group Ticket Request Form. Fan experience packages and discounted group tickets are available for a minimum purchase of 15 tickets.
SPORT GIFT ACCOUNTS
Sport gift accounts play an integral role in our department mission to Win Championships, Graduate with Honors, and Impact the Community. Your generosity has a direct impact on operational support to our teams in resourcing areas like recruiting, nutrition, player development, and technology. Click here or connect with Blazer Boosters on how you can continue to fuel success and help UAB Athletics create a competitive edge in the American Conference.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
For more information on the UAB women's basketball team, be sure to follow @UAB_WBBALL on X and Instagram.
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