After dominating the opening quarter, Florida collapsed in the second half of a 16-8 loss to Denver in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Boulder, Colorado.

The Gators entered Friday averaging 15.67 goals per game, the fourth-highest mark in the nation. But against a Denver squad ranked fourth nationally in scoring margin (+7.56), Florida’s offense seemed to almost disappear after the opening quarter.

Florida looked in control early.

After Denver opened scoring on a free-position goal, the Gators rattled off four unanswered goals in the first quarter. Florida’s quick passing repeatedly forced Denver’s zone defense to scramble as the Gators controlled possession and carried a 4-1 lead into the second quarter.

But momentum shifted quickly.

Denver erased the deficit with three second-quarter goals before Clark Hamilton briefly restored Florida’s power to take a 5-4 lead. The quarter turned chaotic from there, with multiple yellow cards disrupting the flow on both sides and goals waved off for each team.

A crucial save from goalkeeper Susan Radebaugh kept the game tied late in the half, but Denver struck with two seconds remaining before halftime to take a 6-5 lead.

At halftime, Florida coach Amanda O’Leary pointed to the Gators’ missed opportunities offensively.

“We’re making some really good decisions offensively,” O’Leary told ESPN. “We just have to shoot better. We’re getting multiple opportunities, we just need to shoot better.”

The warning signs only grew after halftime.

Denver opened the third quarter with three straight goals in less than three minutes, part of an unanswered six-goal run spanning the second and third quarters that completely flipped the game. 

Florida never recovered.

Gabbi Koury and Frannie Hahn each scored in the third quarter, but the Gators struggled to generate consistent offense as Denver continued to capitalize on its chances.

Radebaugh exited after allowing nine goals with five saves before Florida turned to Maya Soskin and later Paige Crowther in net. The goalkeeper changes did little to slow Denver’s attack.

Meanwhile, Denver’s goalkeeper Lexi Gwakhu continued her postseason dominance, recording her third consecutive double-digit save performance.

Denver closed the game on a five-goal scoring run and finished with 22 shots on goal compared to Florida’s 18.

What began as a dominant opening quarter for the Gators quickly unraveled, as Denver advanced to the second round to play Colorado.

Falling 9-1 in five innings to No. 2 Alabama in the SEC Tournament semifinals, the Gators went 0-for-4 with the bases loaded and left 10 runners on base in the loss. It marked Florida’s first run-rule defeat in the SEC Tournament since the 2012 championship game (also against Alabama).

Freshman Leah Stevens got the start in the circle and opened strong before the Crimson Tide broke through. Stevens (5-2) pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

Florida (48-10) showed early promise when Taylor Shumaker and Jocelyn Erickson drew walks in the first and advanced on a passed ball, but Alabama pitcher Vic Moten responded with three straight strikeouts to strand both runners.

Alabama (49-6) threatened in the bottom half, but Stevens matched Moten by striking out the side to escape the inning.

The Gators continued to apply pressure in the second, loading the bases again as Moten struggled with command. But once more, Florida came up empty, unable to deliver a timely hit.

That missed opportunity proved costly.

The Crimson Tide broke through in the second when Ambrey Taylor launched a leadoff home run. Alabama added three more runs in the inning, highlighted by a two-run single from Marie Giles, to take a 4-0 lead.

Florida answered with its only run in the third. Ava Brown led off with a walk and moved to third on a double from Townsen Thomas. Madison Walker brought her home with a groundout, cutting the deficit to 4-1.

Alabama quickly regained momentum. After Olivia Miller relieved Stevens with two outs in the third, the Crimson Tide extended the lead with a two-out rally. Jena Young delivered an RBI double, aided by a throwing error, and Alexis Pupillo followed with an RBI single to make it 6-1.

Moten settled in from there, retiring the Gators in order in the fourth.

Florida had one last chance to avoid the run rule in the fifth but, for the fourth time, left the bases loaded without scoring.

Alabama put the game away in the bottom half with Katelynn Oxley on the mound. Pupillo drove in a run with an RBI double, Audrey Vandagriff followed with another and Taylor ended it with an RBI single to seal the run-rule win.

Florida now awaits Selection Sunday at 7 p.m. to learn its NCAA Tournament fate.

Tampa was named the host site for the 2027 and 2028 SEC Gymnastics Championships. The meet will be at Benchmark International Arena, the home of the Tampa Bay Lightning and the same arena that hosted Florida men’s basketball in the first rounds of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

“We are pleased to bring the SEC Gymnastics Championships to Tampa, thanks in large part to the strong support the Tampa Bay community has historically provided for SEC events,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said. “That proven enthusiasm, combined with Benchmark International Arena’s championship reputation and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission’s deep experience, gives us great confidence in delivering a world-class event worthy of the elite level of competition our student-athletes bring to the floor every year.”

The SEC Gymnastics Championships moved to neutral sites in 2001, coming to Florida just twice. Jacksonville played host in 2010 and 2017, but Birmingham, Alabama, and Duluth, Georgia, have hosted a combined 14 times. 

Florida did not have a large fan presence in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where it won its 13th program SEC title in March, dating back to the second meet in 1982, and fourth under coach Jenny Rowland. Now, with the SEC Championship just 131 miles from the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, the Gators can expect a large turnout as Florida attempts to win back-to-back titles.

After graduating in May 2021, Chronister found herself at a crossroads by the fall. She didn’t know how to separate herself from a sport that had become part of her, but she was willing to try. After graduation, she decided to attend law school at UF.

“I wanted to see what else I had to offer, which is kind of why I went to law school,” Chronister said.

At the same time, an opportunity to return to softball came with an offer to coach at Santa Fe College; however, she was hesitant to accept. The quick turnaround from player to coach was a road she wasn’t sure how to navigate.

“I told myself I didn’t necessarily want to coach. I wasn’t sure if I was capable of translating it — my patience, my competitive energy can sometimes be a little tough,” Chronister said.

Chronister eventually talked herself into accepting the assistant coaching position and has now coached for the past five seasons, helping lead the Saints to a 40-12 record this year.

“She’s one of the best pitching coaches in the state of Florida, if not the country,” said McKenna O’Sullivan, a freshman utility player and pitcher for Santa Fe.

O’Sullivan graduated last spring from Gainesville High, where she played for Chronister’s father, Chris.

Before her days as a Saint, she began taking pitching lessons with Chronister at age 11, and the two worked together for nearly six years. During that time, they formed a close relationship that has carried into their time together at Santa Fe.

After trying to step away from coaching during her first semester of law school, Chronister realized she still needed what the game had provided her since childhood. After earning SEC Academic Honor Roll recognition all four years of undergrad, she struggled in her first semester of law school.

“It was honestly the worst semester I’ve had. So I knew that I needed to thrive in the chaos of always being busy and having a way to decompress away from school,” Chronister said. “That’s what the game once again provided for me — that peace and comfort.”

Approaching graduation in May, Chronister has gained a new perspective through coaching. She continues to lean on lessons learned from watching her father, Chris. Growing up, she built a strong connection with him through their shared love of softball.

“He’s a leader. As soon as he steps on the field, the kids are going to listen to him,” Chronister said. “That’s something I want to exude as a coach as well.”

Turning the Page

After winning Gainesville High’s first state championship in program history and being named Florida Gatorade Player of the Year, Chronister took her next step at the University of Florida.

The lights shine much brighter on the SEC stage. However, she carried many of the lessons she learned from her father to help her succeed at the next level.

“The SEC can humble you really quick,” Chronister said. “You can have great days and you can have really bad days. So him being tough on me — in the sense of owning my mistakes and figuring out how not to crumble — was something that I definitely needed.”

On May 29, 2021, she pitched the final game of her college career against Georgia in the Super Regional. The realization that she would never play again hit her like a freight train.

“I was a victim of Georgia starting to hit me around a little bit, and that’s when I realized it was probably going to be my last day playing,” Chronister said. “It’s a feeling that honestly was horrible looking back, but also five years later, it makes me so proud of how much I loved that game. That feeling of sadness brought out gratitude — all the hard years were worth that moment.”

Chronister’s softball journey was far from over. During her five years at Santa Fe, she has helped lead the Saints to five straight 30-win seasons. Santa Fe is ranked No. 6 in the NJCAA DI Softball Rankings as it finishes the regular season and prepares for postseason play.

The former pitcher is not only a coach to her players, but an inspiration.

“I think a lot of my teammates have adopted her mindset because Coach Katie’s mindset is, ‘I’m that girl; I’m a winner,’” O’Sullivan said. “She’s super confident in herself, and she’s super confident in us. Her confidence definitely rubs off and makes us feel confident even if we don’t truly feel it.”

Chronister continues to translate her experience at UF into the inner workings of Santa Fe’s program. She is preparing her players for their next chapters and the reality of playing at a four-year university.

“She always has things super fast-paced,” O’Sullivan said. “The way practices are run, it’s like a four-year, which is very useful for us whenever we go to a four-year.

“It’s really refreshing to have coaches like that because I know some other junior colleges, their coaches aren’t like that. It’s definitely going to make playing at a four-year a lot easier because that’s how four-year coaches operate.”

Coaching goes beyond softball for Chronister. She is invested in her players’ lives off the diamond, helping them become the best version of themselves.

“She’s super engaging with people, which I really respect,” O’Sullivan said. “She doesn’t treat me just like an athlete. She treats me as a human being who has feelings and things going on.

“That’s what I appreciate most — how I’m able to talk to her about everything and how gracious she is.”

Softball did not end for Chronister on that day against Georgia; it was simply the end of one chapter. Now, five years later, she is living a new one. While much has changed, one thing remains a constant anchor in her life: the game of softball.

Despite the loss of two legends of the game, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, Miami loaded up its roster in the offseason and prepared to defend its title. With the opening of its new home, Nu Stadium, management was poised to usher in a new era for the club.

However, Miami has failed to win at Nu Stadium across its three home games, leaving fans and management disappointed. And while Miami (5-4-2) is currently No. 3 in the Eastern Conference, it has failed to live up to the high expectations set for the season.

It kicked off the season with a shocking 3-0 loss to LAFC. A few weeks later, Miami was knocked out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup in the Round of 16 by Nashville SC. After logging two draws across both legs, Nashville advanced on away goals, taking away Miami’s chance at winning the only major title that has eluded them so far.

And on April 14, its entire coaching staff left the club after coach Javier Mascherano stepped down due to personal reasons. Mascherano joined Inter Miami in late 2024. In his first season, he led the team to its first MLS Cup title, which came after an Eastern Conference Championship. Under Mascherano, the team broke the MLS’ single-season goal-scoring record, with 101 goals across 58 games. 

So it came as a surprise that he left the club early in the season, taking his entire staff with him, leaving fans to speculate about what went wrong. The club will likely conduct its search for its fifth permanent head coach during the World Cup break. 

“I think what this club lacks, in general, is continuity and stability,” Miami Herald sportswriter Michelle Kaufman said. “I don’t think any club can really build when they’re changing coaches every year.”

Another factor that may explain the team’s performance is the immense pressure put on the team. Miami is led by one of the biggest names in the sport: Lionel Messi. He has become the face of Miami and the face of the MLS. Everything revolves around the star, which puts a lot of pressure on the rest of his teammates.

“When the whole focal point is one player, all the players are focused so much on him that they don’t play as freely as when they’re playing without him,” Kaufman said. 

This may explain why forward Germán Berterame, who was formerly the star at Monterrey, has struggled to adjust to his new team. The loss of Busquets and Alba, who both played with Messi for several years and developed strong chemistry with him on the pitch, has placed a strain on the lineup.

“They lost two legends,” Kaufman said. “You can’t just replace that.”

The team has struggled to be consistent and cohesive. During several games this season, Miami failed to be aggressive from the start of the game. There is still a lot of time left in the season to improve, but it is vital that they learn to play together, Kaufman said.

With much anticipation for the future of the program, Florida coach Tammi Reiss made the announcement about transfer guard Skye Owen being a major acquisition for the Gators.

Owen will bring an element of competitiveness while also fitting in well with the program’s culture.

An athletic and versatile combo guardOwen brings the ability to score at all three levelsOwen joins Florida after a four-year career at St. John’s, where she contributed to two 20-win seasons and helped the program secure a 2023 NCAA Tournament appearance—its first since the 2015–16 season. Although limited last season due to injury, she demonstrated strong performance the year prior, averaging 7.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting efficiently from both three-point range and the free-throw line. She also recorded a career-high 18 points in a game against Wake Forest.

During her sophomore season, Owen appeared in 29 games with four starts and ranked among the top players in the Big East in steals and steal percentage. She averaged 5.4 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, while achieving career highs in rebounds, assists, and steals in individual matchups.

Before college, Owen was a standout at St. Francis Prep in Queens, New York. She earned All-New York City First Team honors and was recognized as a McDonald’s All-American nominee. Averaging 22 points and six assists per game during her senior year, she was also rated as a top-50 prospect nationally and led her high school team to a city championship in 2020.

With a return to form, Owen is likely to become an important part of the Gators’ roster next season.

UF coach Todd Golden confirmed the signing earlier this week, describing the freshman forward/center as a physical, energetic player who brings toughness and versatility to the roster.

“He is a hard worker who will fit seamlessly within our program upon arrival,” Golden said. “We are looking forward to him starting workouts with our team this summer.”

Standing at 6-foot-10, Butajevas has steadily built a reputation as a productive player with a blend of physicality and mobility. Before making the jump to college basketball in the United States, he developed his game in Spain with Unicaja Málaga’s youth system, where he averaged 15.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.

Butajevas, 19, also arrives with a different perspective and a level of international experience which is uncommon for an incoming college player. He has represented Lithuania in several major competitions, consistently producing against top teams. At the 2025 FIBA U18 EuroBasket, he averaged 13.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, highlighted by a 25-point, 16-rebound performance against Greece. He also competed in the 2024 FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup and the 2023 FIBA U16 European Championship.

With departures impacting Florida’s frontcourt depth, returning contributors such as Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Viktor Mikic are expected to take on larger roles, while Butajevas adds depth and long-term potential in the paint.

He joins a strategic incoming group that includes fellow big man Jones Lay, as Florida continues building around a roster that retains much of its core heading into next season.

With a mix of returning experience and international talent, the Gators appear focused on continuity while also raising their expectations for the future. As Butajevas transitions to the college game, he could become an important developmental piece in Florida’s frontcourt rotation.

The injury bug hit Florida (29-16, 11-10 SEC) again, as Brendan Lawson missed the game with another illness and Colton Schwarz re-aggravated his oblique.

Florida knew the challenge coming in, facing an Aggies (33-8, 14-6) lineup with five hitters batting .300 or better, with the lowest at .260. The Gators looked to take advantage of Texas A&M starter Weston Moss, who entered with a 5.98 ERA.

But the offense never got going at Condron Family Ballpark. Florida managed just one run and couldn’t replicate its production from Friday and Saturday.

“They just threw fastballs. That play in the eighth at home doesn’t count, we had a hit hitter coming up with the wind blowing,” UF coach Kevin O’Sullivan said.

The first inning moved quickly with no score, but the difference in efficiency showed early. Florida starter Russell Sandefer (2-2), who entered with a 3.86 ERA, needed 21 pitches in the inning, while Moss threw just six.

Florida’s defensive struggles showed in the third. Ethan Surowiec bobbled a ground ball and misfired to first, leading to an RBI single from Gavin Grahovac. Boston Kellner scored an unearned run to give Texas A&M the lead.

“Their starters were more efficient,” O’Sullivan said. “Bobbled a ball, had a runner thrown out at home.”

The Aggies extended it to 3-0 in the fourth. Chris Harrison advanced to third, and Jorian Wilson scored on a wild pitch.

Florida answered in the bottom half. Caden McDonald singled for an RBI, scoring Cade Kurland.

But that would be it offensively.

In the sixth, Texas A&M responded again, when Wilson launched a home run to center to stretch the lead. Another Aggie homer followed later, pushing the score to 5-1 entering the ninth.

Florida couldn’t mount a comeback in its final at-bat, ending the game quietly despite having one last chance to extend it.

The Gators will now turn their attention to the weekend, hitting the road for a series at No. 14 Oklahoma (29-14, 11-10).  It’s the Gators’ first three-game series in Norman. Friday’s game is set for a 7:30 p.m. ET start on the SEC Network and at 7:25 p.m. on ESPN 98.1-FM/850-AM WRUF.

“We have the week off, guys will finish up their exams and then we’ll leave to Oklahoma,” O’Sullivan said.

The Gators had a draft pick in all seven rounds this year for the first time in program history.

Here’s a look at the latest Gators to enter the NFL:

NFL Draft Day 3: Tommy Doman is Picked by Buffalo in Seventh Round

The Florida punter was selected 239th overall by the Bills on Saturday. Doman averaged 44.04 yards per punt in 2025, placing 17-of-50 inside the 20-yard line.

Doman, a Michigan transfer, led the FBS in hang time last season (4.5 seconds).

NFL Draft Day 3: Trey Smack is Selected by Green Bay in Sixth Round

Florida’s All-SEC kicker was picked 216th overall, a compensatory pick (from Pittsburgh via Seattle) after the Packers traded both of their seventh-round picks to move up for Smack.

NFL Draft Day 3: George Gumbs Jr. Picked by Indianapolis in Fifth Round

Gumbs, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound edge, was selected 156th overall by the Colts.

He started nine games last year (31 tackles, 6.5 TFLs with 2.5 sacks, 2 FFs). Had surgery on his right meniscus in November.

Gumbs, a transfer from Northern Illinois, played in 13 games with three starts (35 tackles, 8 TFLs with 5 sacks, 2 PBUs) in 2024 for UF.

NFL Draft Day 3: Devin Moore Picked by Dallas in Fourth Round

The 6-foot-3 1/4, 198-pound Moore was selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the No. 114 overall pick in the fourth round. He recorded 64 tackles, five interceptions and 14 defended passes in 30 appearances and 17 starts in four season with the Gators.

NFL Draft Day 2: Austin Barber Goes to Cleveland in Third Round

Florida Gators offensive lineman Austin Barber is heading to Cleveland after being selected in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, pick No. 86 by the Browns.

In 2025, Barber allowed three sacks and 17 quarterback pressures in pass protection, according to Pro Football Focus. He also posted a 90.0 run-blocking grade, the highest of his career.

Barber earned a 5.98 prospect grade from NFL.com, projecting him as an average backup or special teamer at the next level.

The former Gator will now look to compete for a spot along Cleveland’s offensive line heading into the fall.

NFL Draft Day 2: Jake Slaughter Lands in L.A.

Florida Gators center Jake Slaughter will make the trip to Los Angeles to live out his NFL dreams.

Slaughter was selected 63rd overall by the Los Angeles Chargers in the second round on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Slaughter was ranked as a top-10 center in the country, according to PFF. He allowed only one sack in over 800 snaps at Florida, becoming one of the best pass-protecting centers in the country and the NFL draft.

He was a 2024 First-Team All-American, a two-time All-SEC selection (2024, 2025), and a 2025 Rimington Trophy Finalist during his time as a Gator. 

The 6-foot-5, 303-pound offensive lineman will look to make an immediate impact out in California.

NFL Draft Day 1: Gators’ Caleb Banks Goes 18th Overall to Vikings

Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks has found his new home. Banks was drafted 18th overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday.

A towering 6-foot-6 and 327 pounds, Banks was ranked in the top 5 of his position group going into the draft. The Vikings defense finished 3rd best in the NFL, allowing 32 touchdowns while giving up an average of 282.6 yards per game.

“I feel like I’m a freak athlete one on one. I know if I develop the way I could, I’m going to be dangerous,” Banks said.

Read more here. 

Notes: Former Florida wide receiver Caleb Douglas (Texas Tech) was drafted by Miami in Round 3 with the No. 75 overall pick.

Former Florida offensive lineman Jalen Farmer, who started the last two years after transferring to Kentucky, was picked in the fourth round, No. 113 overall, by the Indianapolis Colts.

Former UF defensive tackle Chris McClellan was selected in the third round Friday by the Packers, at No. 77 overall. The 6-3¾, 313-pounder played two years at Florida before finishing with two years at Missouri.

Sapp did sign a deal with the Cleveland Browns, Sturdivant with the Packers and Underwood with the Philadelphia Eagles.