Florida's Me'Arah O'Neal Declares for Transfer Portal Amid Coaching Changes
Florida women's basketball star Me'Arah O'Neal enters transfer portal
Yahoo! News
Image: Yahoo! News
Me'Arah O'Neal, a rising junior forward for the Florida Gators women's basketball team and daughter of NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal, has announced her entry into the transfer portal. This decision follows a coaching change and comes as the Gators face a rebuilding phase after losing key players.
- 01Me'Arah O'Neal averaged 13.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in the 2026-27 season.
- 02O'Neal is the 10th player to leave the Gators following the coaching change from Kelly Rae Finley to Tammi Reiss.
- 03The Gators are entering a rebuilding era after losing key players, including top scorer Liv McGill.
- 04Tammi Reiss emphasized the importance of culture and roster construction in her introductory press conference.
- 05The transfer portal offers opportunities for teams to rebuild quickly, potentially turning around programs within a year.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Me'Arah O'Neal, a rising junior forward for the Florida Gators women's basketball team, has announced her intention to enter the transfer portal. O'Neal, who is the daughter of NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal, had a solid season, averaging 13.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks over 33 starts in the 2026-27 season. Her decision to transfer comes after a coaching change from Kelly Rae Finley to Tammi Reiss, marking her as the 10th Gator to leave the program. O'Neal's departure, alongside that of top scorer Liv McGill, poses significant challenges for the Gators as they enter a rebuilding phase. In her introductory press conference, Reiss highlighted the importance of maintaining team culture while assembling a competitive roster. The transfer portal, however, provides a pathway for rapid rebuilding, allowing teams to potentially turnaround their fortunes within a year.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
The loss of key players like O'Neal and McGill could hinder the Gators' competitiveness in upcoming seasons, affecting team morale and performance.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Reader Poll
What do you think about players entering the transfer portal?
Connecting to poll...
Read the original article
Visit the source for the complete story.