Sports | Women's Basketball

Florida women’s basketball added a new coach to its staff Tuesday, as Jackie Moore was named assistant to the head coach.

Florida women’s basketball names Jackie Moore assistant to the head coach

By Brenda Bogle | June 7

Jackie Moore returns to Gainesville to take over one of the biggest roles in college sports.

Head women's basketball coach Kelly Rae Finley watches her team from the side of the court Feb. 27.

Taking Charge: Kelly Rae Finley brought Florida women’s hoops back to glory

By Brenda Bogle | June 13

Florida falls to UCF in NCAA Tournament, magical season comes to a close

By Caleb Wiegandt | Mar. 19

Florida head coach Kelly Rae Finley and forward Jordyn Merritt discuss the game plan before Merritt checks into the game against Missouri Feb. 27

Battle-tested Gators look to dance past talented UCF

By Brenda Bogle | Mar. 16

Florida's Kiara Smith during a game against Alabama on Feb. 18, 2021. Smith will not compete with the team in the NCAA Tournament due to a season-ending injury.

Florida earns a 10-seed, will face UCF in NCAA Tournament

By Caleb Wiegandt | Mar. 13

Guard Zippy Broughton controls the ball against Missouri Feb. 27. The senior lead the Gators with 26 points Friday in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals versus Ole Miss.

Smith-less Gators trounced out of SEC Tournament quarterfinal by Ole Miss

By Caleb Wiegandt | Mar. 4

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Junior guard Nina Rickards possesses the ball against Missouri Feb. 27. In Florida's opening game of the SEC Tournament Rickards led the way with 15 points and eight rebounds.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida rallies late and advances to the third round of the SEC tournament

By Brenda Bogle | Mar. 3

Florida earns a bittersweet 53-52 win over Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament. Guard Kiara Smith had to be helped off the floor late in the fourth quarter.

UF head coach Kelly Rae Finley observes the floor during a Sunday afternoon home stance against Missouri.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Overjoyed reactions to Finley hiring flood in

By Caleb Wiegandt | Mar. 2

Her players, Mike White, Mary Wise and other prominent Gators voiced their support for Finley via social media after Monday’s announcement.

Guard Kiara Smith in the huddle during a game against Missouri Feb. 27. The graduate student was named to the All SEC First Team and SEC All-Defense Team.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

SEC Tournament is the latest obstacle on the horizon for the Gators

By Brenda Bogle | Mar. 2

With Florida’s SEC Tournament play beginning Thursday in Nashville, Tennessee, take a look back at some of the crucial moments from the team’s historic run.

Kelly Rae Finley during Florida's game against Missouri Feb. 27. She was announced as the team's permanent head coach Monday.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Finley named women’s basketball’s permanent head coach

By Caleb Wiegandt | Feb. 28

The long-awaited announcement is here. Athletic director Scott Stricklin has named Kelly Rae Finley Florida women’s basketball’s permanent head coach, removing the interim tag after an impressive year.

Florida guard Jordyn Merritt drives the ball against Missouri. The Gators fell to the Tigers Sunday, 78-73.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators’ cinderella regular season ends with three straight loses

By Brenda Bogle | Feb. 27

Sophomore Jordyn Merritt dropped 23 points in Florida’s 78-73 loss to Missouri. The final regular-season game for the Gators also saw four seniors receive recognition before game time.

Florida's Kiara Smith pictured during a Jan. 28, 2021 game against Mizzou. Smith led Florida with 18 points versus Vanderbilt Thursday, but 28 turnovers plagued the Gators.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida careless with the ball, drops game at Vanderbilt

By Caleb Wiegandt | Feb. 25

Florida turned the ball over 28 times in a loss to Vanderbilt Thursday night. Kelly Rae Finley was still all smiles after, saying they’ll use the ugly loss for fuel creeping into March.

Nina Rickards pulls up for a jump shot against Georgia Feb. 28, 2021. She led the Gators with 17 points during Sunday's loss to LSU

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Tigers keep Gators at bay in the bayou, 66-61

By Brenda Bogle | Feb. 20

A tough shooting night from the Gators at the free-throw line resulted in their first road loss in SEC play, as the Tigers captured a 66-61 victory.

Nina Rickards drives into the lane during a Feb 12, 2021 game against Kentucky. The Gators wore their pink uniforms Thursday night.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida outlasts Arkansas for astounding 20th win of the season

By Caleb Wiegandt | Feb. 17

Emanuely de Oliveira shined with 15 points as No. 17 Florida survived Arkansas for their 20th win. She’s excited to play a part in Florida’s surprise of a comeback season. “That’s what we looked forward [to] since I got here,” Oliveira said.

Kelly Rae Finley during the Gators' 84-59 win against Tennessee Feb. 3

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Keep Kelly Rae Finley? SEC coaches think Stricklin’s move is obvious

By Caleb Wiegandt | Feb. 15

“I’ve been asked a few times what’s the difference. Kelly Rae Finley is the difference.” Georgia coaches don’t say that about Florida peers often, but that’s what Joni Taylor said about the Gators’ run through the SEC this year. She’s not alone.

Florida's Jordyn Merritt pictured driving with the ball during a Feb. 15, 2021 game against Kentucky.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

No. 17 Florida captures road victory against Tigers, 83-77

By Brenda Bogle | Feb. 15

“I was really pleased with our ability to learn throughout this game, to make adjustments and to play on the road in a heated environment,” interim head coach Kelly Rae Finley said.

Florida's Nina Rickards pictured during a Feb. 15 game against Kentucky. Rickards scored seven points and grabbed five rebounds in 35 minutes of action Thursday.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators triumph in a slugfest, beat Mississippi State

By Caleb Wiegandt | Feb. 11

No. 19 Florida looked a little shaky in their first game as a ranked team in over 5 years.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida notches latest signature win, stomps No. 7 Tennessee

By Caleb Wiegandt | Feb. 3

“We don’t need validation from anybody,” said sophomore Jordyn Merritt. That’s the message as of late around Florida women’s hoops. It’s the mantra that gave the Gators a rout over No. 7 Tennessee, only the fifth win in series history. From @CalebWiegandt

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators fall to No. 1 South Carolina, 62-50

By Brenda Bogle | Jan. 30

Aliyah Boston's 13 points and 19 rebounds helped South Carolina hand the Gators their third loss in SEC play.

Florida's Kiara Smith pictured during a Feb. 28, 2021 game against Georgia. The senior scored 23 points and dished out eight assists in UF's upset victory over LSU Sunday.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators continue historic run with hard-fought upset of No. 11 LSU

By Caleb Wiegandt | Jan. 23

Florida earned its fifth straight SEC win by upsetting No. 11 LSU in Exactech Arena.