Florida Women’s Basketball Falls To Minnesota In WBIT Semifinals

The Florida Gators women’s basketball team closed its 2024-25 season with a 66-52 loss to the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the WBIT semifinals at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Monday. It marked Florida’s first postseason semifinal appearance since 2013.

Florida (19-18) All-SEC freshman guard Liv McGill led the Gators with 18 points, but the team struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 4-of-21 attempts (19%). Minnesota (24-11) , meanwhile, shot 34.8% from 3-point range, giving the Gophers a key advantage.

The Gators were efficient at the free-throw line (6-for-6) but were outmatched on the boards as Minnesota dominated both offensively and defensively. Turnovers continued to be an issue for Florida, with the Gophers capitalizing for 13 points. Minnesota also controlled the paint, making it difficult for Florida to close the gap.

Florida cut the deficit to eight in the second half, but Minnesota’s defense stifled any momentum. With the season’s end, McGill set a a program record for most points by a freshman in a single season, finishing with 611 — surpassing Quientella Bonner’s 489-point record from 1977. The Gators secured their first winning season since 2022-23, and coach Kelly Rae Finley earned her first postseason quarterfinal win.

final.#GoGators | Presented by @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/TjSOdFVIBt

— Gators Women’s Basketball (@GatorsWBK) March 31, 2025

Finley Welcomes New Addition

Finley did not travel with the team to Indianapolis, as she gave birth to her son, Laken, early Monday morning in Gainesville. Both Finley and her baby are healthy and were cheering on the Gators from home. Assistant coach Susie Gardner served as head coach Monday,