SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

March 5, 2026

Kelly Rae Finley

Liv McGill

Bon Secours Wellness Arena

Florida Gators

Postgame Press Conference

Oklahoma 82, Florida 64

THE MODERATOR: We're joined by Florida Head Coach Kelly Rae Finley, and student-athlete Liv McGill. We'll start with an opening statement from Coach.

KELLY RAE FINLEY: Obviously not the result we wanted. I feel like we had worked for all season. That's a very good Oklahoma basketball team. There's a reason that they're ranked 7th in the country, and there's a reason that this is the best women's basketball league in the country.

I think that how we finished the season has been quite strong. Three Quad 1 and 2 wins. 5-4 in the last nine, with the four losses coming to top-20 opponents. I don't know, maybe correct me if I'm wrong. Maybe three top 10 and one top 25.

But that's why you come to this league to play. I'm extremely proud of our team, the growth that we've had over the course of the season, and I'm excited to see what's next for us.

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Liv.

Q. Liv, Coach just talked about the growth that the team has experienced over the course of the season. Can you talk a little bit about that and how well you guys were playing down the stretch this season?

LIV McGILL: I am extremely proud of our growth from start to finish. We had a lot of downs, but we also had a lot of ups. I'm just very proud to watch each and every one of my teammates grow, and I'm just extremely happy.

Everybody poured in. Our coaching staff poured in. Everybody was dedicated. Everybody sacrificed. And that's what it takes to be a connected team and have each other's back and play for each other. Even though we fell short tonight, that's what we did.

I know when I look to my right and left, like I said yesterday, I know my teammates have my back, and I still feel the same way no matter win, lose, or draw. I would say everybody would say the same thing.

Q. Liv, I look at your results, your personal results, against the toughest opponents, the highest-ranked opponents, they always seem to be your better games. What is it that turns your notch, your scoring level and your play overall up against those top teams?

LIV McGILL: Honestly, I just try to focus on the game plan. Whatever the game needs. Coach Kelly is really good at helping me prepare with whatever reads they're going to throw at me, what our weaknesses are, what their weaknesses are, how we're going to take advantage of them. I just trust my work.

I put in the work, and my coaches and my teammates believe in me. When I step on the court, it's easy. Whether we play a top team or a low team, I just trust my work.

THE MODERATOR: Liv, thank you very much.

LIV McGILL: Thank you. Shout-out to my mom, too.

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Coach.

Q. It can be really tempting after a tough loss to focus on everything that went wrong, but what can you tell us about what you're the most proud of from this team from the season and then what's next for you guys?

KELLY RAE FINLEY: Well, first of all -- what's your name? Stephanie. I really appreciate that question. As a woman who leads young women, I think it's really important that we acknowledge that we're all competitors, but there is a human component to everything that we do.

The human component shines with pride when you're mentoring, coaching, challenging, and uplifting 18- to 23-year-old young adults. So what I can tell you about this team is, man, they prepare like the best of them. You know, we're the youngest team in the conference, and we showed up every single night to compete, and I would expect nothing else.

They never asked for handouts. They never wanted excuses. My group is gritty. They're tough, and they're built from the right things. I've had a lot of questions about Liv's growth, Me'Arah's growth, Laila's growth, Nidi's growth, Cat's growth. I could go on and on and on, but the truth of our program is this, we develop our players. We pour into them. We love them, and when you love them, you challenge them.

We show up for them every day, and analytically, they just improve. As they improve, our team and our program will continue to rise. We're as good as we've been on both sides of the ball in the last eight years right now today.

Our last month of play and really over conference play, but our last month of play, you know, I don't know if you guys watch and look at Bart Torvik or any of those analytical stat things, but we're top 30 in offense and defense.

For such a young group, that's a huge feat, because we weren't there at the beginning of the year. We struggle with some injuries. We struggle with some nagging things, but we had to learn what it takes.

Over the course of the season, we've been able to do that, you know, and if given the opportunity, for whatever is next, man, they're going to shine.