sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Florida freshman Adhithya Ganesan (left) rips a backhand with sophomore Tanapatt Nirundorn (right) in the Gators’ 7-0 win against The Citadel on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024.

Sports

Florida men’s tennis falls to No. 4 Texas, moves to 7-1 at home

By Curan Ahern | Mar. 2, 2025

With a vibrant blue sky and a cool breeze blanketing Gainesville, the Florida Gators (8-5) looked to extend their winning streak and to grab a fourth-straight conference win over a higher-ranked opponent. Looking to continue its own recent dominance and remain undefeated in conference play, Texas (12-2) arrived ready for the challenge on Sunday morning.

Florida Gators guard Will Richard (5) dunks the ball in a basketball game against Texas A&M on Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

Guard Dominance: Florida basketball prepares for the NCAA Tournament

By Noah White | Mar. 2, 2025

There are many reasons college basketball teams cut down the nets in early April. Some are led by efficient offenses, scoring 85 or more points round after round. Others lean on their defense to make games messy, slowing the pace of play down to the point where every basket matters that much more. However, there’s a common denominator among the last decade’s national champions: elite perimeter play.

Florida freshman Luke Heyman rounds the bases during the Gators' 3-0 win against Florida A&M Friday, June 2, 2023.

Sports

Luke Heyman homers twice in Florida’s series-clinching victory over Miami

By Jack Meyer | Mar. 1, 2025

Thanks in part to Luke Heyman’s two home runs, the Florida Gators secured a series-clinching victory against the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday afternoon.

Florida Gators catcher Jocelyn Erickson (8) hits the ball in a softball game against Boston College in Gainesville, Fla., on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.

Sports

Florida dominates day two of the Florida Invitational, notches two run-rule wins

By Noah White | Mar. 1, 2025

Gators softball notched back-to-back wins in the Florida Invitational on Saturday, dominating Troy and Western Michigan.

Gators lacrosse senior attacker Maggi Hall calls for a play in the team's win over Old Dominion University on Saturday, March 23, 2024.

Sports

Florida lacrosse falls short in comeback attempt against James Madison

By Max Bernstein | Mar. 1, 2025

Down 16-10 heading into the fourth quarter of Saturday morning’s matchup against James Madison, Florida lacrosse faced what seemed to be an insurmountable task.

Florida Gators outfielder/infielder Ashton Wilson (30) dives past second base while stealing in a baseball game against the Air Force Academy in Gainesville, Fla., on Friday, Feb. 15, 2025.

Sports

No. 8 Gators power past Miami to open series and remain undefeated

By Hugh Green | Feb. 28, 2025

Bobby Boser and Brendan Lawson went deep in the third inning to lead Florida past Miami.

The Florida Gators women’s softball team stands for the national anthem before their home opener at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium against North Florida on Feb. 6, 2025.

Sports

UF silences Samford to clinch Tim Walton’s 1,000th win

By Jackson Colding | Feb. 28, 2025

Consistent starts is something any starting pitcher thrives on. UF sophomore right-handed pitchers Keagan Rothrock and Ava Brown can attest to that.

Florida Gators gymnast Selena Harris-Miranda performs on the balance beam in a gymnastics meet against the Missouri Tigers in Gainesville, Fla., on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025.

Sports

Selena Harris-Miranda notches perfect score in No. 6 Florida win over No. 8 Missouri

By Liana Handler | Feb. 28, 2025

No. 6 Florida Gators gymnastics defeats the No. 8 Missouri Tigers 198.125 - 197.725 Friday evening in Gainesville, Florida.

UF tennis player Henry Jefferson celebrates during a match against the University of North Florida on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.

Sports

Florida men’s tennis sweeps Kentucky in singles, moves to 3-0 in conference play

By Curan Ahern | Feb. 28, 2025

As the crowd filed into the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex and the sun lowered on the western horizon, the Florida Gators (8-4) entered their third SEC match of the season against conference rival Kentucky (8-4) with a sense of poise.

UF Women's Tennis player Nikola Daubnerova sends a ball over the net during the Florida Invitational on Jan. 11, 2025. (Credit: Kade Sowers)

Sports

Per Nilsson’s tactical changes fail as Florida women’s tennis remains winless in SEC play

By Jeffrey Serber | Feb. 28, 2025

Despite making a change to his singles lineup, Per Nilsson remains winless against SEC opponents as Florida women’s tennis’ head coach.

Junior Sloane Blakely performs on the uneven bars in the Gators gymnastics' Hype Night on Monday, Dec. 4, 2023.

Sports

Gators’ senior gymnast Sloane Blakely out for season

By Liana Handler | Feb. 28, 2025

Florida senior gymnast Sloane Blakely confirmed on Friday that she will be out for the rest of the season.

Florida Gators Head Coach Todd Golden celebrates with the team after a win in a basketball game against Oklahoma on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

Why you shouldn’t be worried about the Georgia loss

By Noah White | Feb. 28, 2025

When highly-ranked college basketball teams lose in late-February, people assume it's a bad sign for their NCAA Tournament prospects. That’s not the case.

University of Florida Gators Women’s Basketball plays against the Oklahoma Sooners for their senior night on Thursday, Feb. 27th, 2025.

Sports

Florida suffers 24-point loss to No. 13 Oklahoma on senior night

By Amanda Roman | Feb. 27, 2025

Florida women’s basketball suffered a 24-point loss to No. 13 Oklahoma on its senior night and final home game of the season.

Sports

Sports and politics are two sides of the same coin

By Isis Snow | Feb. 27, 2025

As millions watched Kendrick Lamar commandeer the Super Bowl Halftime Show, many viewer's thoughts lingered on the underlying political message behind his performance.

Florida Gators catcher Brody Donay (29) flips his bat after hitting the first home run of the season in a baseball game against the Air Force Academy in Gainesville, Fla., on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025.

Sports

No. 8 Florida outlasts UNF in back-and-forth battle

By Hugh Green | Feb. 26, 2025

No. 8 Florida Gators baseball took down the UNF Ospreys in a marathon game that had pulses racing.

Florida infielder Reagan Walsh prepares to swing her bat during the Gators’ 4-3 win over the Connecticut Huskies Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023.

Sports

UF dismantles Florida Gulf Coast in return to home action

By Jackson Colding | Feb. 26, 2025

Florida clinched its 11th run-rule victory of the season in its first home game since Feb. 16 with a midweek win over FGCU.

Florida infielder Colby Shelton (10) celebrates with infielder Cade Kurland (4) and infielder/outfielder Bobby Boser (6) after a home run as the Florida Gators face the Dayton Flyers on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, at Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

Chaotic night on the diamond ends in a Florida midweek victory over Stetson

By Hugh Green | Feb. 25, 2025

Two things you don’t see every day on a baseball diamond: the game being finished under protest and a dropped fly ball in center field that goes over the wall for a home run. Both things happened Tuesday night, as Florida won a wild battle against Stetson.

Oliveras swings during the Gators' match against the FIU Panthers on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex in Gainesville, FL / UAA Communications photo by Lorenzo Vasquez

Sports

From Saint-Étienne to Gainesville: How Noémie Oliveras achieved her goal of playing collegiate tennis

By Jeffrey Serber | Feb. 25, 2025

Being from the same hometown, UF assistant head coach Jeremy Bayon and freshman Noémie Oliveras have built a unique bond that brought the freshman and helped her settle into the University of Florida.

Florida sophomore Nate Bonetto (left) and freshman Tanapatt Nirundorn (right) compete in their doubles match during the Gators' 6-1 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks Friday, March 24, 2023.

Sports

Florida men’s tennis upsets No. 19 No. 19 Alabama in hours-long bout

By Curan Ahern | Feb. 24, 2025

On a dreary day in Gainesville, Florida’s clash with No. 19 Alabama was moved to the Perry Indoor Tennis Facility — but that didn’t deter any of the excitement that was yet to come.

Sports

Luke Heyman and Colby Shelton hope to spark Florida title run after bypassing professional offers

By Hugh Green | Feb. 24, 2025

Luke Heyman and Colby Shelton decided to come back to Florida for their junior years, hoping to bring a title back to Gainesville.