In the summer of 2025, Florida women’s basketball was gearing up to head into its fifth season with Kelly Rae Finley as its head coach. Standout players Liv McGill, Laila Reynolds and Me’Arah O’Neal were preparing to step onto the court with full force in the fall.
One year later, the program is nearly unrecognizable. Finley was let go from her position after failing to make the NCAA tournament for the fourth consecutive year in March. Soon after, all but one player on Florida's roster opted to leave.
When new head coach Tammi Reiss arrived in Gainesville, she quickly turned to the transfer portal and recruiting trail, adding 12 newcomers in just a few months. Reiss’ recruiting strategy details several key components: retention, utilizing the transfer portal effectively, identifying high school talent and finding personalities that fit the program's culture outside of just on-court skill. The roster, recently ranked No.15 nationally by USA Today, is filled with reliable scorers, veteran guards, front and backcourt depth and pure excitement.
Less than three months after Reiss’ hiring and two after the portal closed, the team was officially welcomed to Gainesville and began summer practice on June 18th.
Jade Weathersby, senior forward
Florida’s rebuild is anchored by senior forward Jade Weathersby, who became the lone player from last year’s team to stay in Gainesville. Weathersby averaged 5.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per game last season while shooting 35.8% from 3-point range. More importantly, she provides valuable firsthand experience with SEC competition.
Heading into the season, Weathersby is looking forward to working with Reiss and stepping into a leadership role.
“We came up with a plan for exactly what we want the season to look like and how we’re going to help each other go ahead and accomplish that,” Weathersby said.
Reiss immediately prioritized keeping Weathersby when she took over, praising her fit within the culture.
“She was one of the players that could run my system, that could really shoot the ball, that could get to the rim, that was physical,” Reiss said. “I wanted to keep her … I was really ecstatic when she actually decided [to stay].”
Kiyomi McMiller, junior guard
Junior guard Kiyomi McMiller is one of the bigger names added to the roster, generating excitement for the Gators’ new start.
McMiller arrives after an All-Big Ten campaign at Penn State, where she scored in double figures in 27 games her sophomore season. She averaged 34.3 points per game during a six-game stretch in February and posted a career-high 40 points against Southern California.
McMiller has known Reiss since she was in fifth grade and pointed to their long-standing relationship as a large part of her coming to Florida.
“Her confidence and my confidence just aligns to win,” McMiller said. “She’ll do anything to win. So, that’s a coach I want to be coached by.”
Reiss called the opportunity a “full circle moment.” Concerning her talent on court, she said they were aware of what McMiller was capable of as a player.
“You need a guard that can score at will, create for themselves and create for their teammates,” Reiss said. “And she’s that. She really is.”
Vanessa Harris, sophomore guard
No newcomer is more familiar with Reiss than Rhode Island transfer Vanessa Harris.
The sophomore guard played under Reiss at Rhode Island and helped the Rams finish 28-5, win the Atlantic 10 Tournament and reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 30 years. Harris also earned Atlantic 10 Sixth Woman of the Year and All-Rookie Team honors as a freshman.
Because she understands her expectations, Reiss said Harris could play a key role in helping establish the program's culture.
“There’s only one, and that’s Vanessa,” Reiss said, referring to Harris as the only player she’s previously coached. “Vanessa knows what the expectation is.”
Since arriving in Gainesville, Harris said she has already seen the team begin to build chemistry. As for taking on a leadership role, she said that’s something any player could provide to the group.
“I think I definitely can [take a leadership role], but also with what coach Tammi says, she feels like anyone on the team could be a leader, whether that’s a freshman or a grad student,” Harris said. “So as long as we all do what we’re supposed to do, we’re all going to be leaders on the team.”
Aurora Almon, junior forward
Aurora Almon arrives at Florida with a reputation as one of the nation’s strongest rebounders.
The 6-foot-4 junior transferred to Florida after spending time at both Miami and Syracuse. Throughout her collegiate career, she has averaged 12.9 rebounds, including 6.6 offensive rebounds, per game.
She’s ranked No. 18 in the nation in offensive rebounds over the past two seasons, and will give Florida another physical presence in the frontcourt.
Ja’Niya Broome, sophomore guard
Ja’Niya Broome arrives in Gainesville after a dominant season at South Georgia Technical College.
The sophomore guard earned NJCAA Division I first team All-America honors while also being named Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year.
Her junior college production makes her one of the most intriguing newcomers on the roster as she transitions to SEC competition.
Moriah Murray, redshirt senior guard
Moriah Murray gives Florida one of its most accomplished perimeter shooters.
During her junior season, the Penn State transfer was ranked 40th in the nation and seventh in the Big Ten for 3-pointers made per game. She also averaged 9.4 points per game and recorded 11 games with at least four made 3-pointers.
Murray’s efficiency extends to the free-throw line, where she has shot 92.6% since the beginning of the 2023-2024 season, the 10th-best mark among Division I players during that span. Her ability to space the floor is expected to complement Florida’s primary scorers.
Jordan Jones, senior guard
Jordan Jones contributes to the roster with one of the most proven scoring resumes among Florida’s veteran transfers.
A two-time All-Summit League second team selection, Jones averaged 19.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game during her junior season at Denver. She also set program records for free throws made and attempted while leading the conference in both categories.
After missing last season at Arizona State due to injury, Jones will look to return to the form that made her one of the Summit League’s top players.
Skye Owen, redshirt senior guard
Skye Owen brings experience and leadership to Florida’s backcourt.
The redshirt senior spent her career at St. John’s before transferring to Florida. Injuries limited her to six games last season, but she scored in double figures in 10 contests her junior year while healthy. Her veteran presence could prove valuable on one of the most newly assembled rosters in the country.
Bailey Harris, freshman guard
One of only two freshmen on the 2026 roster, Harris sits in Florida’s class with an impressive scoring pedigree.
As a senior, Harris averaged 20.9 points per game while adding 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists. She finished her high school career with 2,023 points and broke her school’s all-time scoring record.
The freshman earned first team All-County and first team All-MET Baltimore honors in all four of her high school seasons.
Taliyah Parker, junior guard
Taliyah Parker brings experience from one of the nation’s top teams.
After beginning her career at Texas A&M, Parker spent last season at TCU, where she helped the Horned Frogs win the Big 12 regular-season title and advance to the Elite Eight.
Her experience competing on an SEC and NCAA Tournament team should provide additional veteran leadership.
Vivian Iwuchukwu, junior forward
The former Southern Cal forward adds another experienced frontcourt player.
Vivian Iwuchukwu spent two seasons with the Trojans, helping the program reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Southern Cal climbed to No. 8 in the national rankings during her sophomore season.
Her experience against high-level competition should help ease her transition to SEC play.
Mallory Miller, redshirt junior forward
Mallory Miller joins McMiller and Murray as Florida’s third transfer from Penn State.
The redshirt junior led the Nittany Lions in scoring, assists and blocked shots in her sophomore season while averaging 9.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.
After overcoming injuries earlier in her career, Miller developed into one of Penn State’s most versatile players and gives Florida another multi-dimensional option in the frontcourt.
Maja Bigovic, freshman center
Florida’s newest international addition comes from Montenegro.
The 6-foot-5 freshman center has represented her country in multiple FIBA and EuroBasket competitions and arrives with experience against global competition. Bigovic enters her first collegiate season, bringing size and international experience to Florida’s frontcourt.
Though Florida’s 2026-27 roster looks miles different from previous seasons, the program remains confident and ambitious.
“We want to win an SEC championship,” Reiss said. “Then, can we contend and win a national championship?”
The results will be seen as the season plays out. But for now, the 13-player roster will continue building a foundation during summer bootcamp and a program that could be destined for success.
Contact Lily Perkins at lperkins@alligator.org. Follow her on X @lily_perkins10.
Lily Perkins is a fourth-year journalism sports and media student in her first semester at The Alligator as a sports enterpise writer. In her free time she enjoys cooking, spending time with friends, and of course, watching sports.
