Florida Gators women's basketball

Last updated
Florida Gators women's basketball
Basketball current event.svg 2024–25 Florida Gators women's basketball team
Gators women's basketball logo.jpeg
University University of Florida
Head coach Kelly Rae Finley (4th season)
Conference SEC
Location Gainesville, Florida
Arena Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O'Connell Center
(capacity: 10,136 [1] )
Nickname Florida Gators
Student sectionOrange and Blue Crew
ColorsOrange and blue [2]
   
Uniforms
Kit body thinsidesonwhite.png
Kit body basketball.svg
Kit shorts blanksides2.png
Kit shorts.svg
Home
Kit body thinorangesides 2.png
Kit body basketball.svg
Kit shorts orangesides.png
Kit shorts.svg
Away
Kit body thinbluesides.png
Kit body basketball.svg
Kit shorts bluesides.png
Kit shorts.svg
Alternate
NCAA tournament Elite Eight
1997
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
1997, 1998
NCAA tournament second round
1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2009, 2012, 2014
NCAA tournament appearances
1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2022
O'Connell Center, the home court of the Florida Gators women's basketball team. O-Dome.jpg
O'Connell Center, the home court of the Florida Gators women's basketball team.

The Florida Gators women's basketball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of basketball. The Gators compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Gators play their home games at the O'Connell Center located on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus, and are currently led by head coach Kelly Rae Finley, following the resignation of Cameron Newbauer. [3] [4] The Gators have appeared in 15 NCAA tournaments, with a record of 12–15.

Contents

History

Women's basketball was approved as a sport by the University of Florida in March 1972, and began play in 1973 as a club team. In 1975, the Gators debuted as a varsity program under head coach Paula Welch. They made local headlines in 1976 by winning the "state championship" by beating the other three women's teams in the state at that time. [5]

While historically overshadowed by divisional (and national) basketball powers Tennessee and Georgia, the Gators have made several NCAA tournament appearances and sent players to the WNBA, such as DeLisha Milton-Jones. The winningest coach at Florida is Carol Ross, who guided the team for twelve seasons but left Florida to coach the women's basketball team at her alma mater, Ole Miss.

Florida's women's team was coached by Carolyn Peck, a former WNBA coach who won a national title with Purdue, from 2002 to 2007. Peck was fired midway through the 2006–2007 season (though she was allowed to finish out the season), after enduring the worst losing streak of any Gator sports program.

Former University of Florida player and previous Charlotte coach Amanda Butler was named the new women's basketball coach on April 13, 2007, and remained in that position until 2017. [6]

On March 27, 2017, Cameron Newbauer was announced as the 10th head coach of the University of Florida women's basketball program. [7]

2021 - 2022 Roster

2021–22 Florida Gators women's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightYearHometown
F 00Taliyah Wyche6 ft 3 in(1.91 m)Fr Fort Lauderdale, FL
G 1Kiara Smith5 ft 10 in(1.78 m) District Heights, MD
F 2Tatyana Wyche6 ft 2 in(1.88 m)RS Fr Fort Lauderdale, FL
G 4Zippy Broughton5 ft 7 in(1.7 m)RS Sr Wetumpka, AL
G 5Alberte Rimdal5 ft 9 in(1.75 m)Fr Koge, Denmark
G 11Emanuely de Oliveira5 ft 10 in(1.78 m)Sr Criciúma, Brazil
F 12Jordyn Merritt6 ft 3 in(1.91 m)RS So Plano, TX
F 13Floor Toonders6 ft 4 in(1.93 m)So Wageningen, Netherlands
G 14Kristina Moore6 ft 1 in(1.85 m)RS Sr Sydney, Australia
G 15Nina Rikards5 ft 9 in(1.75 m)Jr Queens, NY
G 20Jeriah Warren6 ft 0 in(1.83 m)Fr Lake Charles, LA
G 22Brynn Farrell6 ft 0 in(1.83 m)So Ortley Beach, NJ
F 25Faith Dut6 ft 4 in(1.93 m)
—
Jr Vancouver
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: September 21, 2018

Year by year results

Conference tournament winners noted with # Source [8]

SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseasonCoaches' pollAP poll
Paula Welch (Independent)(1974–1976)
1974–75Paula Welch 13–6–FAIAW
1975–76Paula Welch 16–8–AIAW Region III
Paula Welch:29–14–
Cathy Davis (Independent)(1976–1979)
1976–77Cathy Davis 12–10–AIAW Region III
1977–78Cathy Davis 12–14–
1978–79Cathy Davis 12–15–AIAW Region III
Cathy Davis:36–39–
Mickie DeMoss (Independent, SEC)(1979–1983)
1979–80Mickie DeMoss 10–19–AIAW Region III
1980–81Mickie DeMoss 11–17–FAIAW
1981–82Mickie DeMoss 13–16–FAIAW
1982–83Mickie DeMoss 11–161–75th East
Mickie DeMoss:45–681–7
Debbie Yow (SEC)(1983–1985)
1983–84Debbie Yow 19–92–65th East
1984–85Debbie Yow 22–94–4T–2nd EastNWIT Second Place
Debbie Yow:41–186–10
Carol Whitmire (SEC)(1985–1990)
1985–86Carol Whitmire 10–182–79th
1986–87Carol Whitmire 12–160–910th
1987–88Carol Whitmire 9–181–89th
1988–89Carol Whitmire 15–141–8T–9th
1989–90Carol Whitmire 12–101–6
Carol Whitmire:58–765–38
Lea Henry (SEC)(1990–1990)
1990Lea Henry 3–30–29th
Lea Henry:3–30–2
Carol Ross (SEC)(1990–2002)
1990–91Carol Ross 17–113–6T–8th
1991–92Carol Ross 15–134–7T–7th
1992–93Carol Ross 19–106–5T–4thNCAA Play-In
1993–94Carol Ross 22–78–33rdNCAA First Round2520
1994–95Carol Ross 24–97–4T–4thNCAA Second Round1817
1995–96Carol Ross 21–96–5T–5thNCAA First Round2216
1996–97Carol Ross 24–99–3T–3rdNCAA Elite Eight67
1997–98Carol Ross 23–910–4T–2ndNCAA Sweet Sixteen1213
1998–99Carol Ross 19–146–8T–8thNCAA First Round
1999–2000Carol Ross 21–136–8T–6thWNIT Finals
2000–01Carol Ross 24–611–3T–2ndNCAA Second Round1814
2001–02Carol Ross 18–118–6T–4thNCAA First Round24
Carol Ross:247–12184–62
Carolyn Peck (SEC)(2002–2007)
2002–03Carolyn Peck 9–191–13T–11th
2003–04Carolyn Peck 19–118–6T–4thNCAA Second Round
2004–05Carolyn Peck 14–155–98thWNIT First Round
2005–06Carolyn Peck 21–98–6T–5thNCAA First Round
2006–07Carolyn Peck 9–222–1211th
Carolyn Peck:72–7624–46
Amanda Butler (SEC)(2007–2017)
2007–08Amanda Butler 19–146–8T–7thWNIT Third Round
2008–09Amanda Butler 24–89–5T4thNCAA Second Round2322
2009–10 Amanda Butler 15–177–9T–7thWNIT Second Round
2010–11Amanda Butler 20–157–98thWNIT Third Round
2011–12Amanda Butler 20–138–88thNCAA Second Round
2012–13 Amanda Butler 22–156–10T–8thWNIT Semifinals
2013–14 Amanda Butler 20–138–85th NCAA Second round
2014–15 Amanda Butler 13–175–1112th
2015–16 Amanda Butler 22–810–6T–4thNCAA First Round
2016–17 Amanda Butler 15–165–11T–11th
Amanda Butler:190–13671–85
Cameron Newbauer (SEC)(2017–2021)
2017–18 Cameron Newbauer 11–193–13T-11th
2018–19 Cameron Newbauer 8–233–13T-12th
2019–20 Cameron Newbauer 15–156–1010th
2020–21 Cameron Newbauer 12–143–1111thWNIT Second Round
Cameron Newbauer:46–7115–47
Kelly Rae Finley (SEC)(2021–Present)
2021-22 Kelly Rae Finley 21-1110-65th NCAA First Round 2321
2022-23 Kelly Rae Finley 19–155–11T-10th
2023-24 Kelly Rae Finley 16-165-11WBIT First Round
Kelly Rae Finley:46-2815-17
Total:790–672 (.540)

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

NCAA tournament results

YearSeedRoundOpponentResult
1993 #10First Round
Second Round		#7 Bowling Green
#2 Virginia		W 69-67
L 55-69
1994 #4First Round#13 Texas A&ML 76-78
1995 #6First Round
Second Round		#11 Radford
#3 Virginia		W 89-49
L 67-72
1996 #5First Round#12 San FranciscoL 61-68
1997 #3First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight		#14 FIU
#6 USC
#2 Louisiana Tech
#1 Old Dominion		W 92-68
W 92-78
W 71-57
L 51-53
1998 #3First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen		#14 Montana
#11 Virginia Tech
#2 Duke		W 85-64
W 89-57
L 58-71
1999 #11First Round#6 ArizonaL 84-87 (OT)
2001 #3First Round
Second Round		#14 Holy Cross
#6 Washington		W 84-52
L 75-86
2002 #6First Round#11 BYUL 52-90
2004 #5First Round
Second Round		#12 New Mexico
#4 Baylor		W 68-56
L 76-91
2006 #6First Round#11 New MexicoL 59-83
2009 #8First Round
Second Round		#9 Temple
#1 Connecticut		W 70-57
L 59-87
2012 #9First Round
Second Round		#8 Ohio State
#1 Baylor		W 70-65
L 57-76
2014 #11First Round
Second Round		#6 Dayton
#3 Penn State		W 83-69
L 61-83
2016 #5First Round#12 AlbanyL 59-61
2022 #10First Round#7 UCFL 52-69

Player awards

National awards

DeLisha Milton – 1997

SEC Awards

DeLisha Milton – 1997

WNBA basketball players

DeLisha Milton-Jones DeLisha Milton-Jones-2007-All-Star-July-15-2007.jpg
DeLisha Milton-Jones

Florida has produced a number of players for the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida Gators</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of the University of Florida

The Florida Gators are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Florida, located in Gainesville. The University of Florida, its athletic program, its alumni and its sports fans are often collectively referred to as the "Gator Nation." The Gators compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and are consistently ranked among the top college sports programs in the United States. The University of Florida currently fields teams in nine men's sports and twelve women's sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeLisha Milton-Jones</span> American basketball player (born 1974)

DeLisha Lachell Milton-Jones is an American retired professional basketball player and head coach of Old Dominion. Milton-Jones played college basketball for the University of Florida. She was a first-team All-American and SEC Player of the Year her senior season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanessa Hayden</span> American basketball player (born 1982)

Vanessa L'asonya Hayden-Johnson, née Vanessa L'asonya Hayden, is an American former college and professional basketball player who was a center in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for five seasons in the 2000s. Hayden played college basketball for the University of Florida, and she played professionally for the Minnesota Lynx and Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amber Jacobs</span> American basketball player (born 1982)

Amber Jacobs is a former professional basketball player in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), for the Los Angeles Sparks. She then became the assistant athletic director for Clarks Summit University and their head women's basketball coach. Prior to that, Jacobs was an assistant coach at the University of Rhode Island women's basketball team under her former head coach at Boston College Cathy Inglese.

LaMurriel Page is a former American college and professional basketball player who was a forward and center in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for eleven seasons. Page played college basketball for the University of Florida, and was drafted in the first round of the 1998 WNBA draft. She played professionally for the Washington Mystics and the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA. Currently, she is an assistant women's basketball coach at Miami Hurricanes.

Tammy Eloise Jackson is an American former college and professional basketball player who was a center in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for six seasons in the 1990s and early 2000s. Jackson played college basketball for the University of Florida, and played professionally for the Houston Comets and Washington Mystics of the WNBA. She is an Olympic bronze medalist.

Sophia L. Witherspoon is a former American college and professional basketball player who was a guard for seven seasons in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Witherspoon played college basketball for the University of Florida, and was selected in the second round of the 1997 WNBA draft. She played professionally for the New York Liberty, Portland Fire and Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA.

Bridget Pettis was an Assistant Coach of the Chicago Sky Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) professional basketball team. She is an American former college and professional basketball player who was a guard in the WNBA for eight seasons during the 1990s and 2000s. Pettis played college basketball for the University of Florida, and professionally for the Phoenix Mercury and the Indiana Fever of the WNBA.

Brandi McCain is a former American college and professional basketball player who was a guard in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for a single season in 2002. McCain played college basketball for the University of Florida, and the played professionally for the Cleveland Rockers of the WNBA.

Tonya Massaline, née Tonya Washington, is an American former professional basketball player who was a forward in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for four seasons.

Merlakia Jones is a former American college and professional basketball player who was a guard in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for eight seasons during the 1990s and 2000s. Jones played college basketball for the University of Florida, and then played professionally for the Cleveland Rockers and Detroit Shock of the WNBA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carolyn Peck</span> American basketball player, coach, sports broadcaster

Carolyn Arlene Peck is an American television sportscaster and former college basketball coach. She was the head coach for the women's basketball teams of Purdue University and the University of Florida, and also the first head coach-general manager in the history of the WNBA's Orlando Miracle. Peck was also an associate head coach for her alma mater, Vanderbilt University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taj McWilliams-Franklin</span> American basketball player (born 1970)

Taj McWilliams-Franklin is an American former professional basketball player.

Carol Ross is an American college and professional basketball coach. Ross has served as the head women's basketball coach for the University of Florida and the University of Mississippi, and also as the head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

The USC Trojans women's basketball team, or the Women of Troy, is the collegiate women's basketball team that represents the University of Southern California, in the Big Ten Conference. The team rose to prominence in 1976, at which time scholarships became available to female basketball players. They were the first Division I team to give these scholarships.

Cameron Michael Newbauer is an American college basketball coach. He most recently was the former head coach of the women's basketball program at the University of Florida from 2017 through 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida State Seminoles women's basketball</span> College basketball team

The Florida State Seminoles women's basketball team represents Florida State University in the intercollegiate sport of basketball. The Seminoles compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

The 2017–18 Florida Gators women's basketball team represented the University of Florida in the sport of basketball during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Gators competed in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Gators, led by first-year head coach Cameron Newbauer, played their home games in the O'Connell Center on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus. They finished the season 11–19, 3–13 in SEC play to finish in a 3 tie for eleventh place. They lost in the first round of the SEC women's tournament to Ole Miss.

The 2018–19 Florida Gators women's basketball team represented the University of Florida in the sport of basketball during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Gators compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Gators, led by second-year head coach Cameron Newbauer, played their home games in the O'Connell Center on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus. They finished the season 8–23, 3–13 in SEC play to finish in a tie for twelfth place. They defeated Ole Miss in the first round of the SEC women's tournament before losing to Missouri in the second round.

The 2021–22 Florida Gators women's basketball team represented the University of Florida during the 2021–22 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Gators, led by first-year head coach Kelly Rae Finley, played their home games at the O'Connell Center and competed as members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

References

  1. ↑ "Rent the Center – Stephen C. O'Connell Center".
  2. ↑ "UF Identity Style Guide". March 1, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Belmont's Cameron Newbauer Hired to Women's Basketball Post". Florida Gators. Archived from the original on 2017-03-28. Retrieved 2017-03-28.
  4. ↑ Parler, Denver (July 16, 2021). "Newbauer Steps Down as Women's Basketball Head Coach". floridagators.com. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  5. ↑ "THE HISTORY OF FLORIDA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL" (PDF). www.gatorzone.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 May 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  6. ↑ "Florida fires women's hoops coach Butler". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on 2017-03-07. Retrieved 2017-03-07.
  7. ↑ "Cameron Newbauer Named Gator Head Coach". FloridaGators.com. Archived from the original on 2017-10-06. Retrieved 2017-03-27.
  8. ↑ "Media supplement" (PDF). University of Florida. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-03-13. Retrieved 11 Aug 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.