sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Florida head coach Todd Golden coaches the Gators' during a practice the day before their Southeastern Conference tournament game Wednesday, March 8, 2023.

Sports

Basketball coach’s departure offered Florida a Golden opportunity

By Luke Adragna | Oct. 30, 2024

The University of Georgia’s colorway represents pure evil in the eyes of Florida fans. According to them, wearing it would be nothing short of committing treason. So on Jan. 27, when Mike White, the former head coach of the Florida Gators men’s basketball team, entered the Stephen C. O’Connell Center donning the red and black colorway, reactions ensued as expected.

Florida’s pair of freshmen Malwina Rowinska (left) and Qavia Lopez (right) celebrate winning a doubles point in the Gators women’s tennis match against Baylor on Tuesday, February, 6, 2024.

Sports

Florida women’s tennis names Per Nilsson as new head coach

By Noah White | Oct. 29, 2024

Twenty-two days ago, Florida women’s tennis was tasked with finding a head coach after Roland Thornqvist’s retirement. The Gators did that today, selecting Pepperdine’s Per Nilsson to guide their program.

Former Gators swimmer Caeleb Dressel broke four World Records this month alone while representing the Cali Condors in the ISL.

Sports

Rivalry Week: Ranking Florida and Georgia’s top five current professional athletes

By Chandler Hawkes | Oct. 29, 2024

The listing of the top five current professional athletes from UF and UGA combined will be primarily weighed on what they have accomplished in their professional career while also acknowledging some of their accolades at the collegiate level. Let’s get into the list.

UF basketball player and freshman Isaiah Brown poses for a photograph.

Sports

Fearless freshman will have chance to make immediate impact for UF men’s basketball

By Max Tucker | Oct. 28, 2024

Freshman guard Isaiah Brown is set to embark on his first collegiate game with the Gators Nov. 4.

Freshman and UF golf player Addison Klonowski plays at the Barbara Nicklaus Cup Day 1 on Oct. 7, 2024.

Sports

Perseverance paramount in classroom and on golf greens for Addison Klonowski

By Aiden Wacksman | Oct. 28, 2024

Addison Klonowski was a full-time student at Indiana one year ago. Now, she leads the Florida women’s golf team in nearly every statistical category.

Florida Gators Defender Anna DeLeon (20) passes the ball during the first half at Donald R. Dizney Stadium on Sunday, October 27, 2024

Sports

Florida knocked out of SEC Tournament contention after aggressive loss to Oklahoma

By Amanda Roman | Oct. 27, 2024

Florida (4-7-6, 1-6-2 SEC) was eliminated from SEC Tournament contention following a 1-0 loss to Oklahoma (10-7-1, 3-6-1 SEC) at Donald R. Dizney Stadium Sunday.

Florida's Alfonso Mestre competes in the 500 free during an Oct. 29 meet against Georgia.

Sports

Florida swim splits tri-meet against University of Tampa and Rollins College

Oct. 25, 2024

UF’s men’s team dropped its first meet of the season at the Riseman Aquatics Center in Tampa on Friday.

The Florida soccer team huddles pregame before its match with the Arkansas Razorbacks Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022.

Sports

Alabama dominates Florida in critical late-season SEC matchup

By Noah White | Oct. 25, 2024

The crestfallen contest wasn’t a first for Florida (4-6-6, 1-5-2 SEC) this season. The Gators entered the contest against Alabama (9-4-5, 2-2-5 SEC) in need of a critical win with UF’s conference tournament bid hanging in the balance. However, UF was unable to come away with a victory on the road in Tuscaloosa on Thursday in a 3-1 loss to the Crimson Tide.

Junior middle back Gabrielle Essix blocks the ball in the Gators' 3-2 win against the Sacramento State Hornets Thursday, Sept. 8, 2023.

Sports

Florida volleyball’s Gabrielle Essix announces abrupt end to her senior season

By Shaine Davison | Oct. 24, 2024

The senior middle blocker announced her injury via Instagram on Thursday. While the exact injury that Essix sustained is currently unclear, she had previously suffered from nagging knee injuries throughout her career at UF.

Florida men's golf head coach JC Deacon and redshirt freshman Matthew Kress embrace after the Gators' victory over the No. 2 Texas A&M Aggies in the SEC Championship Semifinals Saturday, April 22, 2023. / Photo by Leslie White

Sports

Florida men’s golf earns fourth place in final Fall event at Williams Cup

By Aiden Wacksman | Oct. 22, 2024

The Gators rallied behind a season-best 11-under 277 score in the final round on Tuesday to secure fourth place out of the ____ teams represented at the Eagle Point Golf Club in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) embraces Florida Gators running back Jadan Baugh (13) postgame at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday, October 19, 2024.

Sports

The future is now: Jadan Baugh, DJ Lagway shine in much-needed moment

By Max Tucker | Oct. 21, 2024

Florida football head coach Billy Napier's job status was in jeopardy two weeks ago. However, stellar performances from Jadan Baugh and DJ Lagway provided hope for the program to ascend sooner rather than later.

Florida men’s basketball head coach Todd Golden coaches his team during a game against the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens, Georgia, on Saturday, February 18, 2024.

Sports

Todd Golden courting diverse roster ahead of his third season at Florida

By Luke Adragna | Oct. 21, 2024

The Gators men’s basketball team’s roster in 2024-25 will feature six internationally based players.

Florida graduate student JanMagnus Johnson rips a backhand in the Gators’ 7-0 win against The Citadel on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024.

Sports

Florida dominates doubles Intercollegiate Tennis Association Southeast Regionals, secure spot in NCAA Championships

By Carston Handy | Oct. 20, 2024

Several Florida Gators made deep runs at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Southeast Regional Championships, held at the University of Georgia in Athens over the past five days. Fourteen schools from Florida and Georgia competed for NCAA tournament qualification.

Senior outside hitter AC Fitzpatrick hits the ball in the Gators' 3-0 loss against the Auburn Tigers on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023.

Sports

AC Fitzpatrick shines in Florida’s sweep against LSU

By Shaine Davison | Oct. 20, 2024

Florida volleyball claimed the first three sets of its match against LSU to sweep the Tigers in the Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) and Florida Gators running back Jadan Baugh (13) celebrate after the teams 48-20 win at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday, October 19, 2024

Sports

True freshmen Jadan Baugh and DJ Lagway lead Florida to commanding win over Kentucky

By Jack Meyer | Oct. 20, 2024

In a potentially make-or-break primetime contest against Kentucky on Saturday night, true freshmen DJ Lagway and Jadan Baugh combined for over 350 yards of total offense to power the Florida Gators to a much-needed momentum boosting win.

During the Florida Gators Football game vs the Samford Bulldogs on 09/07/2024.

Sports

Florida vs. Kentucky: Live Updates

By Max Tucker | Oct. 19, 2024

The Florida Gators football team will be taking on the Kentucky Wildcats at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for approximately 7:45 p.m. Follow along right here for live updates.

Sports

Gators cross country closes out regular season strong in Wisconsin

By Rae Weinstein | Oct. 19, 2024

After being unable to compete in the FSU XC Invite on Oct. 11 due to Hurricane Milton, the Florida Gators cross country team traveled to Madison, Wisconsin, on Saturday to compete in the third and final meet of the regular season.

Florida Gators Defender Madison Young (21) takes a shot during the first half at Ronald R. Dizney Stadium on Friday, October 18, 2024.

Sports

Florida’s offense stagnant in home loss to Vanderbilt

Oct. 18, 2024

Florida (4-5-6, 1-4-2 SEC) lost its fourth match of SEC play 2-0 against Vanderbilt (8-2-5, 3-2-3 SEC) to open UF’s Homecoming Weekend at Donald R. Dizney Stadium Friday.

The SEC announced Monday it's delaying the start of men's and women's swimming and diving until October.

Sports

Florida swim and dive splits its season-opening meet

By Jackson Colding | Oct. 18, 2024

The No. 3 Florida Gators swim and dive team opened its season with a tall task of taking on the No. 1 women’s and No. 14 men’s squads in the nation after having its first two meets of the season canceled.

Senior guard Aliyah Matharu shoots a jumpshot in the Gators' 83-69 win against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.

Sports

Aliyah Matharu, Florida's reigning leading scorer, enters transfer portal

By Jack Meyer | Oct. 15, 2024

With less than three weeks to go before Florida women’s basketball is set to kick off its new season, the team suffered a major blow last night, as reigning leading scorer Aliyah Matharu has reportedly entered the transfer portal.