Florida Women’s Basketball: Kelly Rae Finley goes worldwide with a talented recruiting class.

Coach Finley's shoe game is tight (Chris Spears photo)

By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com

Under Coach Kelly Rae Finley the Florida Gators have found success bringing in players from outside the United States. The Gators eye for talent extends far beyond the shores of the US and Finley has been able to lure some of Canada and Europe’s best to her roster.

Last season Canadian Faith Dut was a mainstay in the Gator lineup averaging close to six points and five rebounds per game. Dut, who started every game for the Gators led the team in blocks with 27 last season. She was joined on last years roster by international newcomers Alexia Dizeko from Switzerland, and Kenza Salgues from France by way of the University of Miami. The Gators also added Spaniard Daviane Mindoudi late this summer giving the Gators three players from outside the United States. 

While Mindoudi continues to learn the rigors of the SEC Salgues and Dizeko are off to hot starts this season. Salgues is averaging nine points per game and playing close to 30 minutes per contest while Dizeko has helped spark the Gators of the bench averaging 7 points per game and playing a little over 16 minutes per contest.

The success that international players continue to have under Finley certainly influenced the quartet of international signees the Gators landed last week. Emilija “Mills” Dakic, Sarah Deng, Caterina Piatti, and Nyadieng “Nidi” Yiech, bring a diverse set of skills to the basketball court and continue the trend of talented well rounded ball players lured to Gainesville by Finley. Australians Dakic and Deng are talented guards that have the ability to affect the game on both ends of the floor. Dakic has range from outside as well as the ability to drive the ball to the basket, Deng who plays collegiately at Eastern Arizona Community College is a 5’10” guard who brings maturity and athleticism to the Gator backcourt.

Piatti and Yiech will be called upon to add size, scoring, and rebounding to the Gator frontcourt. Piatti, from Italy is one of the top forwards in Europe and will bring the versatility seen from most European players to the Gators. She most recently played for the Italian U18 Women’s Team in the European Championship. Yiech, from Ontario, Canada is a slashing 6’3” forward who was a member of the Canadian U18 Women’s Team that won the silver medal at the AmeriCup this summer. Yiech is the 77th ranked player in the Class of 2026 giving Finley four Top 100 players in the past three seasons.

The signees will join the team for the 2025-2026 season and will add to a roster that will feature three former McDonald’s All-Americans in Laila Reynolds, Me’Arah O’Neal, and Liv McGill as well and highly touted forward Kylee Kitts.