The Gators concluded day one of preparations at Hinkle Fieldhouse with high energy as they look to secure a spot in a postseason final for the first time since 2000.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Florida has touched down in Indianapolis for a high-stakes semifinal matchup in the 2025 WBIT. The Gators are set to take on Minnesota at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Monday evening, with tip-off scheduled for 5 p.m. ET. Fans can catch the action live on ESPNU.
Entering the tournament as the No. 3 seed, Florida will face the No. 2-seeded Gophers, with both teams riding three-game win streaks. A victory would secure a spot in the 2025 WBIT Championship game.
Matchup Preview: No. 2 Minnesota (23–11) vs. Florida
- Date: Monday, Mar. 31
- Time: 5:00 p.m. ET
- Site: Hinkle Fieldhouse
- Stream: ESPNU
- Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM / 850 AM
- Stats
Victory Milestones: What a Florida Win Unlocks
- Tally Florida's first 20-win season since 2021-22
- Punch UF's ticket into a postseason final for the first time since 2000
- Make the Gators 6-1 in post-season play for 2025
- Mark UF's fourth consecutive win in the WBIT
- Be the Gators first championship appearance under Kelly Rae Finley
- Put Florida's all-time record in the WBIT to 4-1
TALE OF THE TAPE:
| Florida | THE NUMBERS | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| 75.3 | PPG | 73.6 |
| 71.4 | OPP PPG | 61.7 |
| 3.8 | SCORING MARGIN | 11.9 |
| 45.4 | FG % | 43.6 |
| 40.9 | OPP FG% | 41.1 |
| 32.6 | 3 FG% | 32.1 |
| 72.9 | FT % | 74.7 |
| 39.8 | REBOUNDS PG | 38.4 |
| 14.5 | ASSISTS PG | 15.6 |
| 17.1 | TURNOVERS PG | 11.1 |
| 7.3 | STEALS PG | 7.6 |
| 3.9 | BLOCKS PG | 2 |
Coach’s Corner: Pre-Game Insights
Head-to-Head Record:
Florida and Minnesota have never faced each other before—this marks the first meeting between the Gators and the Golden Gophers.
Gators vs. Gophers: First-Ever Matchup
Florida and Minnesota have no prior meetings on record. Monday’s game marks the inaugural showdown between the Gators and the Golden Gophers in program history.
Starting Five Forecast: Florida Lineup
| Florida | No. | Height | �Position | Class | Hometown/Previous School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexia Dizeko | 9 | 11-May | F | Sr. | Sion, Switzerland |
| Laila Reynolds | 13 | 1-Jun | G | So. | PG County, MD |
| Jeriah Warren | 20 | Jun-00 | G | Sr. | Lake Charles, LA |
| Liv McGill | 23 | 9-May | G | Fr. | Minneapolis, MN |
| Ra Shaya Kyle | 24 | 6-Jun | C | Sr. | Marion, Ind. / Purdue |
Florida’s Most Recent Win
In their latest outing, Florida secured a 67–64 victory over the Lady Raiders on Thursday night, defending their home court and extending their win streak to three games. The Gators shot 41.1% from the field, converting 23 of 56 attempts, with two players reaching double figures.
Liv McGill led all scorers with 22 points, while Ra Shaya Kyle added 21 and dominated the boards with 12 rebounds. Kyle’s performance marked her 16th double-double of the season.
PROJECTED MINNESOTA STARTERS:
| Tori McKinney | 14 | 1-Jun | G | Fr. | Minnetonka, Minn./ Minnetonka HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amaya Battle | 3 | 11-May | G | Jr. | Hopkins, Minn./ Hopkins HS |
| Grace Grocholski | 25 | 10-May | G/F | So. | North Prairie, Wis./ Kettle Moraine High School |
| Sophie Hart | 52 | 5-Jun | C | Sr. | Farmington, Minn./ NC State |
| Mallory Heyer | 24 | 1-Jun | F | Jr. | Chaska, Minn./ Chaska HS |
Scouting Minnesota
The Golden Gophers arrive at the WBIT semifinals with a 2024–25 season record of 23–11, including an 8–10 mark in Big Ten conference play.
Their most recent outing was a thrilling overtime win against Gonzaga, where Minnesota secured an 82–77 victory on home court to advance to the semifinal round.
On the individual front, Battle leads the team in scoring with an average of 14.3 points per game. Three additional players contribute double-digit scoring: Grocholski (13.8), McKinney (10.7), and Hart (10.2). On the boards, Heyer anchors the defense with 8.7 rebounds per game, followed by Hart with 4.9.
ABOUT THE WBIT:
Event Information
Selection Criteria
Updated Bracket
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