sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Florida guard Liv McGill (23) holds the ball during the third quarter of an NCAA basketball game against Ole Miss, Thursday, Feb.26, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

Florida shines in home finale upset of No. 19 Ole Miss

By Isis Snow | Feb. 26

Gator fans stood and applauded for Liv McGill after she broke Florida’s 25-year-long single-season scoring record.

Florida's Lucie Pawlak celebrates Xinyi Nong’s win over Ana Martinez Vaquero of Louisiana during an NCAA women’s tennis match, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

Florida women’s tennis cruises to road victory over Arkansas

By Sofia Alamo | Feb. 26

After just five months as a Gator, freshman Brooke Black continues to prove her talent on the court.

Florida Gators right handed pitcher Liam Peterson pitches during an NCAA Baseball game against Kennesaw State, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

Florida continues to build bullpen lineup ahead of Miami series

By Adrian Carmona | Feb. 26

Outside of Florida’s big three of junior Liam Peterson and sophomores Aidan King and Cooper Walls, the Gators are still building a reliable bullpen rotation.

Florida right-handed pitcher Ava Brown (00) pitches during an NCAA softball game against Lindenwood, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

Early-season challenge awaits Florida softball at Judi Garman Classic

By Zach Moore | Feb. 26

After a remarkable start to the season, the Gators face their toughest stretch yet this weekend at the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, California.

Florida infielder Ethan Surowiec (10) runs to first base during an NCAA baseball game against Florida International University, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

Lawson’s career night propels No. 10 Gators to midweek sweep over FIU

By Adrian Carmona | Feb. 25

Gators sophomore shortstop Brendan Lawson logged a career-high 6 RBI’s to uplift No. 10 Florida to a midweek sweep over the FIU Panthers.

Florida attacker Ava Kristynik (39) passes during the first half of an NCAA lacrosse match against Michigan, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

Florida lacrosse breezes by Stetson to secure third win of the season

By Coral Uzgiden | Feb. 25

No. 10 Florida (3-1, 0-0 SEC) topped Stetson (0-3, 0-0 ASC) 24-8 in DeLand, Florida, Wednesday night to clinch its third win of the season. The Gators came out firing and refused to let up with even more firepower coming off the bench in the second half.

Florida distance runner Miguel Pantojas runs in the men’s 1000 during the Jimmy Carnes Invitational in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Jan. 16, 2026.

Sports

SEC Indoor Championships Preview: How the Gators stack up with one weekend left to qualify for Nationals

By Paul Hof-Mahoney | Feb. 25

For the first of four occasions in 2026, the Florida track and field teams will be toeing the line with championships up for grabs this weekend at the 2026 SEC Indoor Championships. With one weekend left for the national lists to solidify themselves, here’s how the Gators stack up and what that means for Florida’s SEC Championship pursuits in College Station.

Florida hockey suffered its worst loss of the season in a series-splitting match against the Volunteers on Sunday.

Sports

Gators hockey enters playoffs hunting championship win

By Nicole Scura | Feb. 25

The Florida Ice Hockey Club will finish up the 2025-26 season at the Florida Panthers IceDen in Coral Springs with hopes to clinch a championship.

Florida Gators running back Jadan Baugh (13) runs with the ball during a NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in College Station, Texas.

Sports

Selling himself: How UF running backs coach Chris Foster helped retain Jadan Baugh

By Curan Ahern | Feb. 25

Following a 4-8 season for the Gators – one in which they saw their head coach fired and their lead back rush for over 1,000 yards for the first time since 2015 – a revamped coaching staff is prepared to turn a new leaf in Gainesville.

Florida Gators catcher Karson Bowen runs to third base during an NCAA Baseball game against UAB, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

Gators score season-high 17 runs to down FIU

By Adrian Carmona | Feb. 24

Florida (8-1) used the momentum to pounce on FIU (6-3) 17-11 on Tuesday night at Condron Family Ballpark.

Florida’s Tanapatt Nirundorn gets ready for an NCAA men's doubles tennis match against Florida State in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Jan 30, 2026.

Sports

A look at Florida’s lower-ranked and unranked matchups

By Ethan Feinberg | Feb. 24

As Florida prepares for its seven remaining top 30 matchups, it needs to capitalize on opportunities ahead against lesser-ranked opponents.

Florida distance runner Claire Stegall runs in the women’s 1000 during the Jimmy Carnes Invitational in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Jan. 16, 2026.

Sports

Florida freshman Claire Stegall readies historic kick for postseason racing

By Paul Hof-Mahoney | Feb. 24

Racing the mile at the BU Valentine Invitational, Claire Stegall covered just over eight laps of the notoriously bouncy track in 4:25.91.

Florida's Kevin Edengren returns the ball during an NCAA men's tennis match against Gustav Hasslegren of Florida Gulf Coast University, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

Florida stumbles against Georgia for second-consecutive SEC loss

By Ethan Feinberg | Feb. 23

With only one point scored just two days ago, the Gators looked to change the tide of their Southeastern Conference stretch and find some consistency.

Florida edge rusher George Gumbs Jr. (34) holds Georgia offensive lineman Monroe Freeling during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. Both Gumbs and Freeling are attending the 2026 NFL Draft Combine.

Sports

Previewing how Gators will fare at the 2026 NFL Draft Combine

By Max Bernstein and Curan Ahern | Feb. 23

Every player needs consistency, versatility and resilience to make a name for themselves in the NFL. Yet, with thousands of college athletes vying for professional careers, that opportunity remains out of reach for most, especially when the NFL Scouting Combine invites just 300 to 335 of the top athletes each year.

Jade Brown is a junior sprinter from Coral Springs, Florida. She spent her freshman and sophomore seasons at the University of Arizona before transferring to Florida for the 2025-26 season.

Sports

How coming home has propelled Jade Brown to success on the track

By Logan McBride | Feb. 23

Junior sprinter Jade Brown transferred to Florida during the 2025 summer portal window, a decision that centered around more than just the school. For Brown, Florida offered a chance to compete for a prestigious program and return home to the state she grew up in.

Florida infielder Ethan Surowiec (10) swings his bat during an NCAA baseball game against Kennesaw State Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

Gators secure series sweep against Kennesaw State

By Adrian Carmona | Feb. 22

After surrendering just three runs in the first two outings of the weekend, Florida’s pitching struggled to begin on Sunday afternoon.

Florida guard Laila Reynolds (13) and guard Liv McGill (23) talk with Florida head coach Kelly Rae Finley during the third quarter of an NCAA basketball game against Alabama, Sunday, Feb.22, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

Florida falls to Alabama in penultimate SEC matchup

By Coral Uzgiden | Feb. 22

Foul trouble and missed opportunities plagued the Gators Sunday.

Florida’s Lucie Pawlak gets ready to hit the ball during an NCAA women’s tennis match against Troy, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

Florida breezes past Bethune-Cookman in 7-0 sweep

By Sofia Alamo | Feb. 22

After falling to No. 13 Auburn in their SEC conference opener Saturday, the Gators made just the right adjustments and quickly bounced back against Bethune-Cookman. The Gators clinched every possible point on the court, finishing off the Wildcats 7-0. With the win, UF improved to 5-0 all-time against Bethune-Cookman.

Florida Gators right handed pitcher Keagan Rothrock pitches during an NCAA softball game against MTSU, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

Rothrock shines, No. 4 Florida sweeps 2026 Florida Tournament play

By Zach Moore | Feb. 22

It’s evident that heading into 2026, the strongest unit on the Florida softball team was in the circle. Over the weekend, it showed. Over the five-game stretch, the pitching staff hurled four shutouts.

Anita Bottazzo finishes first in the women’s 100-meter breaststroke against Georgia at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Natatorium on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.

Sports

Gators women’s swim and dive finish third at SEC Championships

By Riley Orovitz | Feb. 22

The No. 10 Gators women’s swim and dive team came just short of notching second place in the Southeastern Championships in Knoxville. The Gators came out of SEC’s with 1,015.5 total points.