Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

The United States failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

The world’s greatest sporting event returns

By Mark My Words | June 14, 2018

It’s the most spectacular event in sports, and it’s finally back.

Florida second baseman Blake Reese stole home in UF's 3-2 win over Auburn Monday night.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Steal home, stellar play by freshmen carries UF to CWS

By Chris O'Brien | June 13, 2018

He dashed to second before careening over and falling to the ground.

Mike Holloway coached the UF men's and women's track teams to respective second-place and fifth-place finishes at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Gators fall short at NCAAs despite solid individual performances

By Alanis Thames | June 11, 2018

Florida needed everything to go right at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.Its men needed at least 53 points to complete the three-peat, and its women needed at least 47 to get their first podium finish since 2014.

Graduate transfer Adam Shuler announced that he will be attending Florida. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida lands graduate transfer Adam Shuler

By Dylan Rudolph | June 11, 2018

Coach Dan Mullen will have another defensive lineman to work with next season.

LeBron James is a better basketball player than Kevin Durant according to Andrew Huang, sports columnist.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Some afterthoughts on the 2018 NBA Finals

By Huang Story Short | June 11, 2018

The better team won the 2018 NBA Finals, just like we all expected. The Golden State Warriors swept the Cleveland Cavaliers to repeat as NBA champions.

Left fielder Austin Langworthy's walk-off home run in UF's 3-2 win over Auburn in the bottom of the 11th inning sent Florida to the College World Series for the fourth-consecutive season.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

OMAHA BOUND: Florida walks off against Auburn to win Super Regional

By Chris O'Brien | June 11, 2018

Alligator File Photo

Jackson Kowar threw his final game at McKethan Stadium as the Gators lost 3-2. Game 3 of the Super Regional is set for 8:30pm on Monday.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Tigers walk off, escape gem from Kowar

By Chris O'Brien | June 10, 2018

Jackson Kowar was near flawless on the day.

Junior Yanis David placed second in the triple jump at the NCAA Outdoor Championships with a best mark of 13.95 meters. The UF women's track and field team took fifth place overall.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Florida’s women finish fifth at NCAAs for second-consecutive year

By Alanis Thames | June 9, 2018

With one event left in the NCAA Outdoor Championships, Florida’s women’s track and field team was four points away from its first podium finish since 2014.

UF starting pitcher Brady Singer picked up the win in his final home game as a Gator. The junior was drafted 18th overall by the Kansas City Royals in the MLB Draft on Monday.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators escape 'Romp in the Swamp,' Singer wins in his final home game

By Chris O'Brien | June 9, 2018

“I’m forever grateful for this place, and I’m really glad to have been a part of it,” Singer said.

Sophomore Grant Holloway earned his second SEC 60-meter hurdles title in as many years on Sunday.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Florida’s men finish second at 2018 NCAA Outdoor Championships

By Alanis Thames | June 8, 2018

It was a much closer race than expected.

Senior jumper Darrielle McQueen finished second in the women's long jump at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon. She captured 8 points for Florida in the event, contributing to the team's grand total of 17, good for second overall.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Long jumpers lead UF women at NCAA Outdoors

By Alanis Thames | June 7, 2018

With her left leg stretched behind her body, Darrielle McQueen repeatedly tapped her baby blue cleat against the ground before taking off down the lane.

Sophomore Grant Holloway will defend his NCAA Championship title on Friday in Eugene, Oregon

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

UF’s collect 13 points on Day 1 of NCAA Outdoors

By Alanis Thames | June 6, 2018

A tough long-jump competition left reigning national champion KeAndre Bates looking for a big jump to lift him out of seventh place on his last attempt of the event's final.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

From retail to MVP: Girand carries an unusual backstory

By Chris O'Brien | June 6, 2018

Over the weekend, the Florida Gators advanced from the Gainesville Regional, but it wasn’t in dominant fashion, especially in the final two games.

Pelicans F/C Anthony Davis was nearly the only unanimous pick by the alligatorSports NBA Awards Selection Panel. He's predicted to be the NBA Defensive Player of the Year by three-fourths of the panel.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

NBA Awards: alligatorSports edition

By Chris O'Brien and Alligator Sports Staff | June 6, 2018

The end of the 2017-18 NBA season is quickly approaching. With three games of the Finals already in the books, we can begin to shift our focus to the NBA Awards on June 25. Sports writers Chris O’Brien, Skyler Lebron, Alanis Thames and Mark Stine provide their takes on who should win the major categories.

Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo and his wife, Barbara Bottini, allegedly used up to five Twitter accounts that made tweets critical of center Joel Embiid and other 76ers players.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

The 76ers Twitter drama is really stupid and unnecessary

By Huang Story Short | June 5, 2018

First Kevin Durant, now Bryan Colangelo?

Senior KeAndre Bates is the reigning national champion in both the triple jump and the long jump. Bates will defend his title this week at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, starting Wednesday.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Gators head to Eugene for Outdoor National Championships

By Alanis Thames | June 5, 2018

History lies within the lanes of Hayward Field.

The entire Florida team celebrates after punching its ticket to the Women’s College World Series for the second-consecutive season. The Gators also won the SEC regular-season and tournament titles.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

2018 Gators should be remembered for what they did, not what they couldn’t do

By Mark Stine | June 5, 2018

Nothing said at Saturday night’s press conference indicated that the UF softball team was disappointed in how its season ended, but it was evident.

UF third baseman Jonathan India was drafted fifth overall by the Cincinnati Reds in the MLB Draft Monday night. Pitcher Brady Singer was also drafted in the first round by the Kansas City Royals.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators drop Game 1, Girand helps earn Super Regional berth

By Chris O'Brien | June 5, 2018

The Florida Gators played two games against the Florida Atlantic Owls Monday night.

Senior pitcher Aleshia Ocasio threw her final outing for the Gators in their 2-0 lost to Oklahoma at the Women's College World Series. Ocasio and starter Kelly Barnhill combined for only three hits, but their efforts weren't enough to save UF's season.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Gators eliminated by OU at World Series for second-straight season

By Mark Stine | June 3, 2018

Florida right fielder Jaimie Hoover slapped a ground ball to third base, turned and sprinted down the first-base line. Down two runs, the junior batted in the bottom of the seventh with two outs and put all of her energy into running the 60 feet to beat out the play. She was caught a step short.

UF third baseman Jonathan India's solo home run jump-started the Gators' offense on a 3-2 win against Jacksonville at the Gainesville Regional. His solo home run was one of three for Florida on the night.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators get Singer back, use the long ball to beat Jacksonville

By Chris O'Brien | June 3, 2018

The ball kept going, and going, and going.