Farewell Finley: Gators Shake Up Women’s Hoops Leadership
The University of Florida has announced the departure of women’s basketball head coach Kelly Rae Finley after four seasons at the helm. Finley amassed a 93-75 overall record and went 30-50 in SEC play, highlighted by an NCAA Tournament berth in 2022 and deep runs in WNIT and WBIT events. Despite strong non-conference performances and talent brought in—including five-star guard Liv McGill—Florida’s struggles in SEC matchups, including a 0-5 league start this year, ultimately led to the coaching change. Athletic director Scott Stricklin praised Finley’s dedication to student-athletes and has launched a national search for her successor, citing a university commitment to sustained success in women’s hoops.
In today’s sports world, nothing screams stability like firing your coach and then immediately promising you’re going to be stable again. It’s as if the Gators took one look at the 0-5 SEC skid and said, “Yep, time for someone else to take the bulletproof clipboard.” You can almost hear boosters sharpening their pitchforks with every non-conference win. Meanwhile, Finley packs up her motivational posters and leaves behind the age-old mantra: when in doubt, blame the schedule. Keep an eye out for the next hire—hopefully they can tell the difference between a foul shot and a three-point prayer.
Anzalone Back in the Sunshine State with Bucs
Linebacker Alex Anzalone has signed a two-year, $17 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, marking a homecoming for the former Florida Gators standout. Originally a third-round pick by the New Orleans Saints in 2017, Anzalone later became a key starter for the Detroit Lions when healthy. After setbacks from injuries, he played 16 of 17 games last season, recording 95 tackles and 2.5 sacks—the second-best sack total of his career. The Bucs, seeking to bolster a lackluster defense, are banking on Anzalone’s proven tackling ability and affordable cap hit to shore up their front seven.
Nothing says “defensive reinforcements” like signing a linebacker who spends half his career in the trainers’ room. But hey, Anzalone’s healthy stretch last season was the NFL equivalent of a solar eclipse—rare and awe-inspiring. Tampa Bay’s defense was so anemic last year it couldn’t even scare a kindergarten tackle dummy. Now they’ve got a former Gator ready to blow through the line—provided he remembers which game he’s playing and doesn’t ask for a hamstring stretching station between quarters. Still, at least fans can celebrate seeing someone in orange again, even if it’s the other team’s uniform.
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