Florida Women's Basketball Preview

Kelly Rae Finley enters year four with two more All-Americans to bolster a talented versatile roster.

By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com

Kelly Rae Finley and guard Kenza Salgues (Chris Spears photo)

The Florida Gators enter the 2024-2025 season with arguably the most talented roster in school history. The roster a collection of experienced players, solid transfers, and highly touted freshman has made the Florida Gators one of the most intriguing teams in the SEC. In her fourth season Kelly Rae Finley continues to preach aggressive defense accompanied by free-flowing offense to create a basketball team that is self-less and plays with control. In their exhibition game against Flagler last Wednesday the Gators received scoring from 11 of 12 players to dominate Flagler 85-46 in an impressive opening effort. 

Under Finley the Gators have experienced historic success winning 57 percent of their games advancing to the postseason in three consecutive years. The Gators advanced to the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament for the second time in two years and secured two wins in the tournament for the first time in 27 years. Last years graduating class was highlighted by three players playing professionally with Leilani Correa being named the SEC Sixth Woman of the Year before being drafted by the Indiana Fever in the WNBA draft.

The Gators have also experienced recruiting success under Finley signing three of the four McDonald’s All-Americans in school history and the tenth best recruiting class in 2024. For 2024 Finley signed Liv McGill, the highest rated recruit in program history as well as fellow All-American Me’Arah O’Neal and highly touted Kylee Kitts from Oviedo, Florida. Finley has also excelled at recruiting international talent with players from France, Spain and Switzerland on the roster and transfers that add scoring and depth to the roster. 

Probable Starters: G Liv McGill (Fr.), G Laila “LaiRey” Reynolds (So.), G Jeriah Warren (Sr.), G/F Me’Arah “Meezy” O’Neal (Fr.), C Ra’Shaya “Big Shay” Kyle (Sr.)

Reserves: F Alexia Gassett (Sr.) F Eriny Kindred (Sr.), G Daviane “Davi” Mindoudi Ongkabahoumb (Fr.), G Kenza Salgues (Gr.), G Alexia Dizeko (Sr.), G Paige Clausen (Sr.), G/F Kylee Kitts (Fr.)

2024-2025 Roster

#3 Alexia Gassett (6-2, Senior): A transfer from Louisville, Ohio native Alexia Gassett brings an athletic, physical brand of basketball to the Gators. Gassett played in 31 games at Louisville and her experience and high basketball IQ make her a nice complement to her teammates on the floor. A willing rebounder and defender, Gassett grabbed over 1,000 rebounds in high school. She is also one of the Gators faster players and will be an asset in the Gators transition heavy offense. Coach Finley describes Gassett as “a positive high energy player that values rebounding”.

#5 Kylee Kitts (6-4, Freshman)-Kitts is a versatile player that can play both the guard and forward positions. Ranked the #25 player in the Class of 2025, Kitts reclassified to the Class of 2024. In 2022 Kitts led Faith Christian Academy to the Florida state championship with 10 pints, 10 rebounds and three blocks. If not for her reclassification Kitts would have possibly been the fourth McDonalds All-American recruited by Finley during her tenure at Florida. 

#6 Kenza Salgues­ (5-9, Graduate): Hailing from Montpelier, France Salgues is one of the returning players for Finley’s team who will play a more expanded role this season. Salgues will play the combo guard role managing both the point and two guards spots for the Gators. One of the more vocal players on the team Salgues brings experience to the roster as well as the ability to knock down three-point shots. An ability that will be key for the Gators this season. 

#8 Me’Arah O’Neal (6-4, Freshman)-Me’Arah has a versatile game that fits well in the Gators system. Me’Arah possesses the ability to handle the ball, shoot from deep and midrange, post up and is a gifted passer. She also has the ability to block and effect shots on defense and recorded two block in the exhibition game against Flagler. Me’Arah was rated the 3rd best prospect in the state of Texas and led Episcopal High School in Houston to the Southwest Preparatory Conference 4A state title. She was selected to the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game and the 2024 Jordan Brand Classic. By the way she CAN shoot free throws. 

#9 Alexia Dizeko (5-11, Senior): Arguably the most athletic player for the Gators, former juco All-American Dizeko is another athletic player in Finley’s stable of guards. Dizeko is a great on the ball defender and excels in the open floor. Dizeko is tough enough to play the power forward position for the Gators in smaller lineups according to Finley and with Warren gives the Gators two athletic wing defenders. Dizeko was junior college All-American who was named the 2023 WBCA Two-Year College Player of the Year. She was also a member of the 2019 Angolan National Team that competed in the 2019 Women’s AfroBasket Tournament. 

#12 Daviane “Davi” Mindoudi Ongkabahoumb (6-1, Freshman)- “Davi is a great shooter and super athletic and fits our style of play”, according to Finley. The 6-1 freshman from Bilbao, Spain arrived just in time for fall practice and is beginning to learn the type of basketball the Gators want to play. Davi is known for her playmaking and ability to finish at the rim.  She plays with good pace and will only get better as she continues to grow under the tutelage of the Gator staff. Davi most recently played with the Barcelona-based team, Segle XXI, where she ranked in her team's top 5 for most points, assists, steals, blocks, and rebounds. 

#13 Laila Reynolds (6-1, Sophomore): Laila Reynolds is an athletic wing that can play all five positions on the floor for the Gators. A willing defender and passer, Reynolds will be called upon to provide more scoring in her second season with the Gators. The 2023 McDonald’s All-American and just the second in program history started 31 of 32 games last season and was named to SEC’s All Freshman Team. Laila has the ability to drive the basketball as well as the creativeiness to get her own shot in midrange isolation situations. Late last season she also recorded a career-high five blocks against Ole Miss in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament. 

#20 Jeriah Warren (6-0, Senior): Known as one of the SEC’s best wing defenders. Warren, the 2021 Louisiana Miss Basketball will be called upon to provide more offensive punch for the Gators this season. A 1,500 point scorer in high school, Warren has the tools to score in double figures consistently while still maintaining her “defense first” mentality. Warren has the athletic ability to drive by defenders as well as the outside touch to force teams to respect her beyond the arc. In the exhibition against Flagler Warren scored 14 points on 5 of 10 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds. 

#21 Eriny Kindred (6-1, Senior): Avid gardener and plant lover Eriny Kindred brings size and athleticism for the Gators. With the ability to defend all five positions on the floor, the former high school track star is able to provide rebounding on both ends as well as the ability to run the floor finish at the rim. Kindred also provides veteran leadership to the Gators appearing in 60 games during her collegiate career. Kindred is the leading free throw shooter among returners on the roster shooting 77 percent last season. 

#22 Paige Clausen (6-0, Senior): A former walk-on, Clausen earned a scholarship following the 2022-2023 season. Clausen is hard worker who was a star prep player in southwest Florida. Paige brings a lunch-pail mentality to the Gators and is respected by her teammates and coaches. A great student and fan favorite, Paige spent the summer as an intern with an RBC Capital Markets in New York and has been offered to return as a full time employee after graduation. 

#23 Liv McGill (5-9, Freshman): The highest rated recruit ever to sign at Florida, Liv McGill is a true point guard whose game resembles Isiah Thomas and Dawn Staley. Described as the “ultimate teammate” by Finley, McGill will be tasked as the primary ball handler and catalyst for the Gator offense. Rated as the nation’s seventh ranked recruit Liv was a McDonald’s All-American and Jordan Brand Classic participant in 2024. As a prep star she led Hopkins High School in Minneapolis to the 4A state title game in 2022 and 2023, winning the title in 2022. This summer Liv represented USA Basketball as a member of the FIFA U18 Women’s Basketball AmeriCup Team that won gold in Bucaramanga, Colombia. Liv plays with pace, and is extremely vocal despite this being her first collegiate season. 

#24 Ra Shaya Kyle (6-6, Senior): “Big Shay” returns from a season-ending knee injury in 2023 prepared to pick up where she left off. The former 5-star recruit from Marion, Indiana is one the SEC’s best post-players and prior to injury was on her way to possible post season honors. The 6-6 center has been applauded by coaches for her attitude, communication on the floor, and leadership off it. Shay returned with a 21 point outing in the Gators exhibition game against Flagler and adding 10 rebounds. A traditional center Shay has developed a mid-range shot to complement her post play. Before her injury Shay had scored in double figures in 79% of the games she played, shooting 58.1 percent from the field, with seven double-doubles in 7 of 14 games last season. 

Florida center Ra Shaya "Big Shay" Kyle (Chris Spears photo)

Quotables:

Kelly Rae Finley on her team- “We want to create elite habits for our freshman. Defense and rebounding will be something that we continue to harp on”.

The Florida Gators open the season tonight against Florida Atlantic at 7pm in the O’Connell Center.