Lead By Example: The steady play of junior guard Laila Reynolds powers the Gators to a gritty win.

By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com, Host of The Lowdown with Loren Meadows

Laila Reynolds (UAA photo)

The Gator Women’s Basketball team has been grinding towards success the entire season. Despite one of the youngest rosters in the SEC the Gators have given some of the top teams in the country everything they wanted. Never deterred the Gators have picked themselves up off the mat in tough losses and conducted themselves with class and humility after wins.

Despite some setbacks there have been successes. Point guard Liv McGill became just the second sophomore in school history to reach 1,000 points and the third fastest to reach the milestone. In addition, McGill was also named one of the ten candidates for the Nacy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Award and award previously won by Caitlin Clark, Skyler Diggins, and Hall of Famer Sue Bird.

While the attention on McGill has been well deserved the team has been led by the quiet presence of its most experienced and steady veteran wing player Laila Reynolds. The junior from Prince Georges County, Maryland was thrown into the fire early as a freshman and has continued to be the glue for Coach Finley and this Gators squad. A presence on both ends of the floor, Reynolds is third on the team in scoring, and second in both assists and blocks while defending at a high level with close to two steals per game. What doesn’t show up in the box score is Reynolds lead by example attitude that is rare in today’s “I gotta get mine” landscape of college athletics. A quiet presence, Reynolds work ethic and commitment to her teammates is ever present in their respect for a teammate who has seen the ups and downs of the rugged SEC.

Thursday night in a rematch against the Auburn Tigers, Reynolds was the catalyst for a hard fought 61-53 win that put the Gators back in the win column after a stretch of games against some of the nation’s best programs. Reynolds led the Gators with 17 points, five rebounds, and three steals, while doing all the little things that don’t show up in the stat sheet but definitely effect winning. Her play motivated teammate Me’Arah O’Neal to contribute her 7th double-double and admiration for her vet. “Laila’s a dog, I love playing with her”. “I’m constantly learning stuff from LaiRae (Laila), how she plays and how disciplined she is.” In talking about Reynolds, Coach Finley simply stated, “It’s a testament to her work ethic.” “Laila was tired of losing.”

The ability to continue to work, and motivate by doing is the calling card of the Gators most versatile player who’s aspires to hear her name called in the 2027 WNBA draft. Reynolds exhibits all the traits of a professional and if her play is any indication that goal is well within reach.

The Gators will return to the O-Dome Sunday afternoon to welcome the Arkansa Razorbacks at 12:00pm.