sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Florida fans decked in merch stand outside of Cantina Añejo following the NCAA Final Four game on Saturday, April 5, 2025.

Sports

18 years in the making: A flashback to UF’s ‘06, ‘07 NCAA championship wins

By Avery Parker | Apr. 7

Surrounded by a stadium packed 51,000 strong, the Gators gathered in Atlanta for the 2007 NCAA Championship game, prepared for a face off against Ohio State. Back in Gainesville, fans crowded into the popular bars of the day, anxious to see if the Gators could pull off their second — and consecutive — NCAA championship win, a feat no team had managed to achieve since the early ‘90s.

The Florida Gators student section celebrates during a basketball game against the Auburn Tigers in the Final Four round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, April 5, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas.

Sports

Natty numbers: How do Florida’s and Houston’s stats compare going into the championship?

By Zoey Thomas | Apr. 7, 2025

Florida and Houston are facing off in the men’s basketball National Championship at 8:50 p.m. in San Antonio, Texas. Both teams pulled upsets in their Final Four games Saturday night. Houston erased Duke’s nine-point lead in the last two minutes to win 70-67, while Florida outlasted Auburn 79-73.

James poses out the window of the bar Ballz following the Gators win at the NCAA Final Four game on Saturday, April 5, 2025.

Sports

Gators gone wild: Gainesville celebrates Auburn win

By Alligator Staff report | Apr. 7, 2025

When UF’s Final Four matchup against the Auburn Tigers ended in triumph, Gainesville roared. Students stormed the streets. Bar floors shook. Fireworks exploded. The Gators had just advanced to their first National Championship since 2007.

Sports

Freshman Niels Villard finds home in Florida men’s tennis

By Curan Ahern | Apr. 7, 2025

Nestled along the banks of the Marne River lies the commune of Meaux in Northern France. A quiet town rich in history and lined with ancient buildings and historic cathedrals, the town is known for its landscape, rich culture and cuisine (including the world-famous Brie de Meaux).

Florida Gators guard Alijah Martin (15) flies through the air before a dunk during a basketball game against the Auburn Tigers in the Final Four round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, April 5, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas.

Sports

Florida ascends into National Championship

By Noah White | Apr. 7, 2025

In a rematch of SEC titans, Walter Clayton Jr. toppled top-seeded Auburn with a career-defining 34-point performance in San Antonio. With the win, Florida advances to its first national championship since 2007.

Florida Gators gymnast Skye Blakely preforms an exhibition on the balance beam in a gymnastics meet against the Kentucky Wildcats in Gainesville, Fla., on Friday, March 14, 2025.

Sports

No. 3 Florida wins Regional Championship, advances to Nationals

By Liana Handler | Apr. 6, 2025

No. 3 Florida Gymnastics wins NCAA Regional Championships, advancing to Nationals in Fort Worth, Texas.

Florida sophomores Bente Spee (left) and Alicia Dudeney (right) compete in their doubles match during the Gators' 4-1 win over the Michigan Wolverines Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

Sports

Florida women’s tennis falls short in long and tight road match against Kentucky

By Jeffrey Serber | Apr. 6, 2025

After a four-hour and 16-minute contest that saw four of their six singles matches go to three sets, the Gators fell short to Kentucky to close out their three-match road trip.

Florida Gators infielder Rylee Holtorf (4) throws the ball in a softball game against UCF in Gainesville, Fla., on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.

Sports

No. 3/2 Florida drops rubber match against No. 12/13 Arkansas

By Jackson Colding | Apr. 6, 2025

After an electrifying win, the No. 3/2 Florida Gators could not make it two-straight, as they dropped Sunday’s contest to the No. 12/13 Arkansas Razorbacks to lose the SEC series.

Gators sophomore baseball player Ashton Wilson, 30, huddles with the team during the UF vs. Mississippi State on March 31, 2024.

Sports

Florida swept by No. 23 Vanderbilt, fall to 1-11 in SEC play

By Hugh Green | Apr. 6, 2025

Never in the history of Florida’s baseball program have the Gators gotten off to as poor of a start to conference play as 2025. After starting 0-8 against SEC opponents, UF took one game against Ole Miss before returning to its rough showings.

Florida Relays at the University of Florida on Saturday, April 5th, 2025.

Sports

Florida hurdlers star in first home meet of the season

By Paul Hof-Mahoney | Apr. 6, 2025

Pollen is in the air, an endless stream of team buses is rolling through the north side of campus, and the cacophonic sound of a starting gun is still ringing through the air. All of this means one thing: it’s track season in Gainesville.

The Florida Gators softball team met junior left fielder Korbe Otis at the plate after she hit a solo home run during the Gators' 4-2 win over Baylor on Friday, May 24, 2024.

Sports

No. 3/2 Florida wins in electrifying fashion over No. 12/13 Arkansas in nine innings

By Jackson Colding | Apr. 6, 2025

In a chaotic contest that featured an ejection and a 15+ minute play review, the No. 3/2 Florida Gators evened the SEC series against the No. 12/13 Arkansas Razorbacks, winning in electrifying fashion.

The Gators will face the Auburn Tigers in San Antonio Saturday for a Final Four match Saturday night.

Sports

Live from Gainesville: UF watches Gators men’s basketball in the Final Four

By Alligator Staff report | Apr. 5, 2025

The Gators returned to the Final Four for the first time since 2014 after a nail-biting Elite Eight performance against Texas Tech. If Florida advances Saturday evening, it will be the first National Championship the team has made since 2007.

Sports

Florida men’s tennis comes up short against No. 18 Tennessee

By Curan Ahern | Apr. 5, 2025

Despite a 3-0 lead, Florida men’s tennis came up just short as No. 18 Tennessee completed a remarkable 4-3 comeback.

Florida baseball head coach Kevin O'Sullivan argues with in the sixth inning of a 19-1 loss to South Alabama on June 5.

Sports

Kevin O’Sullivan ejected, Florida baseball drops fourth straight SEC series

By Jack Meyer | Apr. 5, 2025

UF baseball head coach Kevin O’Sullivan was hit with the first home game ejection of his entire 18-year career with the Gators, as Florida dropped its fourth consecutive SEC series against Vanderbilt on Saturday.

Florida Gators fans talk on the concourse of Capital One Fan Fest during Final Four weekend in San Antonio, Texas, on Saturday, April 5, 2025.

Sports

By air, by land, (not) by sea: Florida fans follow historic NCAA Tournament run

By Noah White and Juliana DeFilippo | Apr. 5, 2025

Final Four Saturday night when Florida will take on Auburn in the Final Four tonight at 6:09 p.m. EST. So will thousands of other Gators. Between mass carpools and emotional ties, here’s how they got there and what it means.

Clark Hamilton (21) plays against Navy on Wednesday, March 12th, 2025.

Sports

Florida lacrosse earns first-ever Big 12 home win in 21-goal effort

By Max Bernstein | Apr. 5, 2025

In its first-ever Big 12 Conference matchup in Gainesville, No. 5 Florida lacrosse dominated San Diego State 21-9 as 10 Gators posted multi-point games.

Florida pitcher Jake Clemente (20) pitches as the Florida Gators face the Dayton Flyers on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, at Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

Florida shut out by No. 23 Vanderbilt in opening game of series

By Hugh Green | Apr. 4, 2025

Florida’s struggles in conference play have been well-documented. For most of its rough start against SEC opponents, the pitching has been the biggest issue. Whether it’s giving up late leads or being out-gunned in shootouts, the bats have not been the problem.

Florida Gators gymnast Taylor Clark preforms on the floor in a gymnastics meet against the Kentucky Wildcats in Gainesville, Fla., on Friday, March 14, 2025.

Sports

No. 3 Florida runs away with second round of NCAA Regional

By Liana Handler | Apr. 4, 2025

No. 3 Florida Gymnastics earned its second-highest score across the regular and postseason to advance to Sunday’s NCAA Regional Final.

Florida Gators catcher Jocelyn Erickson (8) swings in a softball game against UCF in Gainesville, Fla., on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.

Sports

Bats are quiet as No. 3/2 Florida is beaten by No. 12/13 Arkansas

By Jackson Colding | Apr. 4, 2025

Following a midweek loss at No. 8/8 Florida State, the No. 3/2 Florida Gators dropped their second straight game, losing to the No. 12/13 Arkansas Razorbacks in the series opener on Friday.

Alicia Dudeney plays against Ole Miss on March 31, 2024.

Sports

Alicia Dudeney’s upset not enough in Florida’s road loss to No. 6 Tennessee

By Jeffrey Serber | Apr. 4, 2025

Despite Senior Alicia Dudeney’s upset over No. 34 Catherine Aulia and Bente Spee’s victory on court four, Florida fell to the No. 6 Lady Volunteers 5-2 in Knoxville.