Florida Women’s Basketball Continues Building Roster
For a program searching for identity, the Florida Gators women’s basketball may have found another piece to the puzzle. The addition of transfer guard Kiyomi McMiller gives first-year UF coach Tammi Reiss not just a scorer, but a centerpiece to build around as Florida undergoes one of the most dramatic roster overhauls in the country.
McMiller is departing from Penn State after averaging 21.6 points per game last season, a mark that ranked among the top scorers nationally and immediately positions her as one of the most dangerous scoring threats in the Southeastern Conference. But her impact extends beyond making baskets. With 4.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game, McMiller, a rising junior, brings a new and diverse skill set that allows her to control the tempo and create opportunities for teammates.
Versatility is exactly what Florida lacked a season ago. The Gators relied on constant scoring from Liv McGill and struggled to establish consistent offensive rhythm. McMiller has the ability to both score and facilitate a potential solution, giving Florida a more balanced and sustainable offensive identity moving forward.
Her arrival also reflects a deeper shift under Reiss, who has made it clear she is not interested in gradual improvement. Instead, she is aggressively reshaping the roster through the transfer portal, adding experienced players from across the country while retaining just one returner from last season. The strategy signals urgency and an effort to compete sooner rather than later in a conference widely considered the toughest in women’s college basketball.
There are multiple layers to this connection between Reiss and McMiller which sparked the move. The two have known each other for years, dating all the way back to when Reiss first recognized McMiller’s potential and extended an early scholarship offer. That familiarity helped build trust, ultimately influencing McMiller’s decision during a pivotal moment in her career.
“I really want the opportunity to coach Ki and help her grow at the next level,” Reiss said. “She’s a relentless worker and a player who can take over a game.”
McMiller’s résumé supports that confidence. In addition to her scoring average, she recorded multiple 30-point performances last season and demonstrated efficiency in high-pressure situations. She also has the ability to produce consistently against top competition, earning her All-Big Ten honors and national recognition, including a top-20 transfer ranking by ESPN.
Still, questions remain about how quickly a roster built largely through transfers can come together. Chemistry, defensive consistency and depth will all be tested as Florida enters a new era. But if the Gators are going to exceed expectations, McMiller will likely be at the center of it.
More importantly, her commitment signals something larger than a single addition. It suggests that Florida is becoming a viable destination for elite talent, a necessary step for a program that has yet to win a conference championship.
For Reiss, who signed Southern Cal rising 6-foot-3 junior forward Vivian Iwuchukwu on Sunday, the rebuild was never about small steps. With McMiller now in the fold, it’s clear the vision is bigger and the timeline may be shorter than expected.
UF signed 5-11 guard Bailey Harris, who is graduating this spring as the career scoring leader at St. Mary’s High School (Annapolis, Md.), last Thursday. Harris finished the season averaging a county and conference-leading 20.9 points per game to go along with 5.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.3 blocks to earn First Team All-County and First Team All-MET Baltimore honors for the fourth straight season.
Category: College Basketball, Feature Sports News, Gator Sports, Gators Women's Basketball
