NCAA Women's Lacrosse Preview: Huge Losses for No. 9 Florida

USA Lacrosse Magazine is beginning its countdown to the 2025 women's lacrosse season by releasing one team preview per day beginning on Monday, Jan. 13.

We continue the countdown with No. 9 Florida, the team favored to win the Big 12's inaugural season.

Florida is moving to another conference, but that’s hardly the biggest change for the Gators. Following the program’s second trip to the final four, Florida graduated 17 players, eight of whom were starters.

“You can't get away from the fact that we lost a lot of firepower from last year,” O’Leary said.

Seven of the top eight scorers are gone from the top-ranked scoring offense. They accounted for 74 percent of Florida’s output.

Also graduated are 90 percent of Florida’s draw controls, led by Liz Harrison’s 230, plus All-American defender Hannah Heller.

“They’re huge losses,” O’Leary said. “But I think on the positive, we've seen a lot of growth from players who didn't get as much playing time last year.”

The defensive side returns starters Theresa Bragg and Ashley Dyer and both goalies, Elyse Finnelle and Georgia Hoey, along with midfielder Kaitlyn Davies, who helped the U20 U.S. National team win gold in Hong Kong, China this summer.

Opportunities abound for Florida’s incoming freshmen, transfers and returners who now will be the centerpieces for the Gators as they open a new era in the Big 12.

“They want to make another run at the final four and write their piece of history,” said O’Leary.

TOP RETURNERS

Theresa Bragg, D, Jr. (24GB, 16CT)
Kaitlyn Davies, M, Jr. (15DC, 8CT)
Josie Hahn, M, Sr. (21G, 4GB)

Hahn is the perfect example of the sort of “super talented” players that were in the shadows of Florida’s starters last year but will be asked to play a larger role. Hahn was ninth on the Gators in scoring last year, but her 21 goals would have ranked far higher on other teams.

“She didn’t put up a ton of numbers,” O’Leary said. “But she has really stepped up this fall into a really strong leadership position. She’s one of those underrated players.”

KEY ADDITIONS

Gabby Greene, M, Fr. (65G, 10A)
Clark Hamilton, A, Fr. (96G, 44A)
Jenny Markey, M, Gr. (4G, 3A in 2023 at Syracuse)

Greene and Hamilton have assimilated quickly to the college game and should help the Florida attack immediately. Markey is looking to return to form after missing all last year at Syracuse following a season-ending injury in 2023. She was a starter for the Orange as a sophomore and exceeded expectations this fall.

“She’s a rock star, whether it’s on the draw circle or offensively coming out of a program like Syracuse; she is well-versed to be a difference maker,” O’Leary said. “And whether we’re playing man or zone on the defensive end, she just has experience that we need.”

NOTABLE DEPARTURES

Graduations: Paisley Eagan, M; Sarah Falk, M; Ashley Gonzalez, A; Maggi Hall, A; Liz Harrison, DC; Emily Heller, M; Hannah Heller, D; Maria Pansini, D; Danielle Pavinelli, A; Madison Waters, M
Transfers: Lara Kology (Virginia), Jackie Norsworthy (Vanderbilt)

X-FACTOR

Ava Tighe, A, Jr.

Tighe has played in 32 games and has 25 goals and seven assists in her career, and her time on the field has been limited. It won’t be this year if she continues to play like she did this fall. The Gators asked her to be more aggressive going to goal and she found success.

“She’s thrived in that situation,” O’Leary said. “I feel like we haven’t seen Ava at her best just because of lack of playing time. Given the opportunity to get those first-team reps, she’s going to shine.”

THE NARRATIVE

There will be a lot of new faces on the field for the Gators. How fast they come together will determine how far Florida goes, but it’s a team that almost certainly will look better in April than in February.

“My hope is that we're very different,” O’Leary said. “That is my goal, but I mean, we are going to definitely have our work cut out for us.”

Nowhere is there more uncertainty than on the draw. Louisville transfer Cali Bishop won 19 draw controls last year, more than anyone returning for Florida, but there’s nothing settled coming out of the fall.

“It’s certainly that question mark area that we have to figure out,” O’Leary said.

The offense, too, has so much to make up for that nothing is truly certain. It will be fascinating to see how the Gators reload with Gianna Monaco (30G, 10A) the top returning scorer and Tighe and Hamilton looking like early contributors, while Gettysburg transfer Jordan Basso (68G, 43A) brings plenty of experience.

“The offensive end, that’s the piece of the puzzle that we really need to come together,” O’Leary said.

The defense is more set, and Florida has confidence in either Finnelle or Hoey in goal after both started last year. They are part of a returning core that will be crucial to leading the new-look Gators.