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Tag: Katherine Smith

  • USF volleyball coach has the Bulls back in a familiar place

    TAMPA, Fla. — When you snap a two-decades old streak, you get to play dodgeball.

    This is what the USF volleyball team did in preparation for their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 23 years.

    What You Need To Know

    •  The USF Bulls volleyball team is back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 23 years

    •  The last time they were in the tournament, head coach Jolene Shepardson was on the team

    •  The Bulls play the defending national champions Penn State in the opening round on Friday at 5:30 p.m. in Austin, Texas on ESPN+


    The Bulls will face off against defending national champs Penn State in the opening round of the tournament. So of course, in addition to dodgeball time, there was a regular practice. USF knows they are the underdogs, but they are embracing the moment.

    “Day one, I’ve been talking about this and just working through all those speed bumps along the way,” head coach Jolene Shepardson said. “You have know idea how good it feels to be in this situation.”

    Coach Shepardson actually knows how it feels. The last time USF advanced to the NCAA Tournament, she was on the team, helping them advance to the second round in 2002. She’s a home-grown talent who bleeds green and gold. Before she got to USF, Shepardson helped Tampa Prep win back-to-back state titles in 1996 and 97. Now, she’s imparting her wisdom on what it takes to bring home a championship.

    “I honestly can remember pretty freshly in my mind when I played in the first round and second round of NCAA’s as a senior year,” she said. “So, it’s awesome. Very overwhelmed with just the opportunity to say dancing in December.”

    Led by Shepardson, these Bulls have been built to dance. Last season, they won the American Athletic Conference regular season title, their first conference title in 22 years. And this season, they went on a 12-4 conference schedule tear to help them earn an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament. Having a coach who’s been there, done that, has been a big boost.

    “She knows a lot. She’s been here. She’s been in our place,” senior outside hitter Maria Clara Andrade said. “So that just makes it easier for us to go through it. She’s been to the tournament, so it’s really nice to be guided by someone really knows what we’re going through right now.”

    Katherine Smith

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  • St. Pete Catholic reaching new heights this season

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — When you put the work in, big things can happen.

    Senior quarterback Chase Burrill and his St. Pete Catholic teammates are enjoying the spoils of a successful season.

    What You Need To Know

    • The St. Pete Catholic Barons have advanced to the regional finals of Class 1A

    • Enroute to the postseason, the Barons were undefeated in the regular season for the first time in school history

    • Quarterback Chase Burrill has posted impressive stats, including a new Pinellas County passing touchdowns record

    • SPC (12-0) faces West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman (9-3) on Friday, Nov. 28 at 7 p.m.; The winner advances to the state semifinals


    The Barons are in the playoffs where the stakes get higher each week. But Burrill thrives when the game gets bigger.

    “Being able to handle the pressure and everything that comes at you,” Burrill said. “I like a challenge. So as soon as I decided to play football, it was definitely something that caught my eye.”

    The Barons have caught the eye of a lot of people this season.

    They set out to win a lot of games. Turns out, they won them all. The Barons an undefeated 10-0 in the regular season for the first time in school history. That string of victories catapulted them into the postseason. And Burrill is a big reason why they’ve enjoyed unprecedented success.

    “Any great quarterback, everybody has to gravitate to and I think when he walks into a meeting room or into a huddle, everybody kind of feels that presence of Chase and the guys want to play for him, they want to play with him,” head coach Jesse Chinchar said.

    Burrill’s stats this season are impressive: 2,789 passing yards and 45 touchdowns, through the first week of the playoffs. But as eye opening as those numbers are, it’s his two interceptions that stands out the most.

    “When you talk about quarterbacks, you want to have at least a two to one touchdown to interception ratio so when you have his, which is almost 50 to 2, it’s unbelievable,” Chinchar said. “It’s just a testament to him knowing the game and being able to protect the ball.”

    His 45 touchdowns set a new Pinellas County record. And he’s not done. Chase has a shot at the state record. But that’s not his focus. He wants to see how far this team can go this year.

    “It’s a blessing to be a part of it,” Chase said. “We’ve been working all year for this, so it’s expected but we definitely have more to come.”

    Katherine Smith

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  • Armwood offensive lineman is home on the range and the football field

    SEFFNER, Fla. — It takes a special player to wear the Armwood High uniform.

    There’s a big responsibility when you play for one of the top football teams in the state.

    What You Need To Know

    •  The Armwood Hawks are once again in the regional finals of Class 6A. They play South Lake Friday night

    •  One of the leaders on the team, Logan Miller, is a senior offensive lineman who sets a tone with his work ethic

    •  Logan works hard off the field too by raising cattle


    Senior offensive lineman Logan Miller welcomes the pressure. He thrives on it. The bigger the game, the brighter he shines.

    “For me, I can be as violent as I possibly can — everything single down, every single play,” Miller said. “And it’s just fun.”

    But the football field isn’t the only place Miller feels at home. Want to put a huge smile on his face? Put him in a pasture with his cows.

    In his spare time, Miller raises cattle. He wants to be a cattle rancher when his football-playing days are done. He raises the steers to be sold or bred.

    “I love showing cattle because that’s the industry I want to go in the future,” he said. “I’m going to the University of West Georgia for agricultural business and hope to have my own cow operation out in Georgia or wherever I may go. So, it’s been my passion for a good two or three years, and this is my final little baby I have.”

    There is a carryover between Miller’s two loves: football and raising cattle. One passion bleeds into the other. His head coach, Evan Davis, sees the correlation between the two.

    “The energy, the love, the passion and dedication that he has for that is exactly what he brings out here on the football field,” Davis said.

    Being an offensive lineman is not easy. There is a lot of responsibility that comes with the position. You don’t get the touchdowns or the highlight reel plays. The work in the trenches shows up in others player’s stats. But that’s okay with Miller.

    “That kid’s 100 percent, whatever he’s doing,” Davis said. “He truly is the statement of ‘Be present where your feet are.’ Wherever his feet are, he is present and he is active.”

    Katherine Smith

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  • Women sports worlds collide at The Annika

    BELLEAIR, Fla. — Before things got serious, there was some fun.

    Kai Trump showed off her basketball skills before she teed off at The Annika Pro Am. It was the final preparations before President Trump’s granddaughter made her LPGA debut.

    What You Need To Know

    •  WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark and President Trump’s granddaughter Kai were among the participants at The Annika Pro Am

    •  The first round of The Annika tees off Thursday morning at the Pelican Golf Club. Kai Trump will be making her LPGA debut

    •  Bradenton resident Nelly Korda is the defending champ. The world’s No. 2 ranked golfer has won The Annika three of the past four years


    Flipping the script, WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark showed off her golfing skills. Playing in The Annika Pro Am for the second-straight year, Clark admitted to being a little messy off the tee, but she appreciates the challenge of playing outside her element.

    “I honestly haven’t played a ton, but it was fun,” Clark said. “I think any time you get to be out here and see these women do what they do really well, it’s really inspiring and really fun.”

    Clark played in a group that included defending champ Nelly Korda. After a month away from the game for a preventative break due to her neck injury, Korda is back at the Pelican Golf Club — a course she loves and knows very well.

    “I love coming back here,” Korda said. “It’s so close to home. I have so many family and friends coming out during the week, so it’s just a really feel-good tournament because I have a lot of great support behind me.”

    This year’s field is stacked with 15 of the top 25 ranked golfers, including Korda, the world’s No. 2. This Bradenton resident owns The Annika. She’s won the tournament three of the past four years. Last year, she capped off one of the greatest seasons in LPGA history with her seventh tour victory. The reigning Rolex Player of the Year plays some of her best golf at The Annika.

    “I just kind of feel comfortable out here,” Korda said. “I think just having like my family and friends in the crowd, and this is kind of the turf that I grew up on, so there is also that level of comfort.”

    Katherine Smith

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  • USF voice of the Bulls is hanging up the headset

    TAMPA, Fla. — If you are a USF football fan, you recognize the voice.

    That’s because it’s the only voice in the football program’s 29-year history.

    What You Need To Know

    • Jim Louk has been the voice of the Bulls for football games since the team’s inaugural season in 1997

    • He’s been with USF for 43 years, calling more than 3,000 sporting events

    • After he retires at the end of the season, Jim Lighthall, the Bulls men’s basketball play-by-play announcer, will take over the football duties


    “There’s a lot of exciting things going on here, you know, a new stadium, and the team is playing so well,” Louk said. “It’s not the smartest time to step away professionally, but personally, it was the right time.”

    Hard to step away when it’s all that he’s known for 43 years. That’s how long he’s been at USF, calling more than 3,000 sporting events. And he’s been there from the very beginning when the football team kicked off its inaugural season in 1997. Louk has witnessed the program’s growth into national relevance and has been on the call for so many amazing moments.

    He has narrated the good times and the bad. He’s notorious for his passion and his preparation. All of that comes through in his broadcasts.

    “It’s been a privilege to be there for all these games and all these years, but every broadcast is multiple people,” he said. “And everybody except me is gonna be back next year, so I think people are really going to continue to enjoy the broadcasts.”

    One of his sidekicks and USF men’s basketball play-by-play voice, Jim Lighthall, will replace Louk. And he’s got a big headset to fill. When you’re the only one who has done something for so long like Louk, letting go isn’t easy — especially when there is so much that goes into every game.

    “The relationships, the coaches, the players, the broadcasts are fun, but it’s like anything else, it’s all about the people,” Louk said. “That’s the best, and that’s probably what I’ll miss the most.”

    Katherine Smith

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  • Bloomingdale High golfer Caddie Schelle redefines resilience

    TAMPA, Fla. — Just like her favorite singer, Taylor Swift, Caddie Schelle is fearless.

    A brain bleed may have knocked her down. But this Bloomingdale High golfer defied the odds and got back up. As she goes through the paces of her rehabilitation, Schelle continues to impress.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Bloomingdale High golfer Caddie Schelle suffered a brain bleed during a high school practice

    •  She was taken on an air flight to Muma Children’s Hospital at Tampa General Hospital

    •  She has been through extensive rehabilitation, relearning how to walk and talk


    “Caddie represents what we all think we can be and that is resilient, strong, determined,” her dad, Rob Schelle, said. “She is just showing everybody that there aren’t limitations.”

    The Schelles’ world turned upside down on Aug. 12 when Caddie collapsed during a golf practice. She was taken to Muma Children’s Hospital at Tampa General Hospital on an air flight, and that’s when the fight for her life began.

    The rupture in her brain affects her left side. She has had to relearn how to walk and talk and basically do everything again.

    “You think you know your kid after 15-and-a-half years of bringing them up,” Rob Schelle said. “We can’t be more proud.”

    The rehab is not easy. There’s pain at times. But Caddie is focused on one thing. No matter how hard the task is, no matter how much her head hurts, each step she takes gets her closer to the golf course.

    “I just want to go hit some balls,” Caddie said.

    The golf community can’t wait for her return. Various fundraisers have been held for the Schelle family — a lot of people reaching out, wanting to help and praying for Caddie. Her fight has touched so many. And it’s inspired so many.

    “She’s always said she wants to change the world, and it’s been amazing to see her change it,” her mother, Kilene, said. “Like, she’s changed our community, she’s changed.”

    Katherine Smith

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  • Tampa Bay Lightning Captain Victor Hedman one-on-one

    TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Lightning hit the ice for their home opener Thursday night at Benchmark International Arena.

    Getting bounced from the playoffs in the first round in back-to-back seasons has the team motivated this year.

    What can we expect from the Bolts this season? Spectrum Sports 360 reporter Katherine Smith sat down for a one-on-one interview with Victor Hedman where he talks about being a captain, Stanley Cups and the Florida Panthers.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Tampa Bay Lightning open their season at home against the Ottawa Senators

    • The Bolts have been bounced in the first round of the playoffs in back-to-back seasons by the Florida Panthers

    • Captain Victor Hedman said the team has a Stanley Cup run in them this season


    QUESTION: This is the second season you’re going to be wearing the C on your chest. What does that honor mean to you?

    VICTOR HEDMAN: It means a lot, obviously. To represent the community and the team and being a team’s leader it’s a great feeling. So, I don’t take that for granted one bit. But like I said before last year, it’s going to be a team effort. And we have a great leadership group in that room, so they make my job easy. It’s obviously a lot more responsibility on you when you wear that C, but like I said, it’s a great honor and it’s nothing I take for granted. So every time you play in the NHL you get to wear the C, it’s a cool feeling.

    QUESTION: Five year anniversary since you won your first Stanley Cup. Four years since you won your second. Is there a Stanley Cup run in this team this season?

    VICTOR HEDMAN: 100 percent. We have all the tools for it and we’ve got great depth, phenomenal goaltending. So, we got all the tools in the toolbox to make a big run again. But that’s very far ahead. We gotta make sure we have a great start to the season first and then get things moving.

    QUESTION: What do you like most about the team this year?

    VICTOR HEDMAN: I mean I love our team chemistry. Our core group has been together for a long time. And the new guys coming in fit in right away. So, our chemistry, but just our determination too to be as good as we can in all areas of the game, that’s what’s going to set us apart.

    QUESTION: I’m going to say a bad word, Florida Panthers. These two teams do not like each other. The way that your season ended last year, how much is that motivating the team this year?

    VICTOR HEDMAN: I mean motivation comes from different aspects, but it’s two years in a row that we’ve been knocked out in the first round by them. So, we know that’s going to keep being brought up throughout the year. But, like I said, this is a new season and we’re looking ahead. But like I said, that’s one of the teams we have to get through to get to the ultimate goal, so yeah.

    Katherine Smith

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  • New CEO of USF Athletics, Rob Higgins, bleeds green and gold

    TAMPA, Fla. — Rob Higgins stood in front of a standing-room-only crowd at USF and proudly produced a letter from his pocket he had been holding onto for 35 years. And then he hugged the man who sent it to him.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Rob Higgins is the new CEO of USF Athletics

    •  Higgins replaces former Athletic Director Michael Kelly, who left USF for Navy

    •  USF Board of Trustees Chair Will Weatherford said Higgins’ new title is the first of its kind in the nation


    The letter was from former USF Men’s Basketball assistant coach and Bulls alum Tommy Tonelli. Dated April 24, 1990, the letter thanked Rob for his role as the team’s manager and for helping the Bulls make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.

    “Just like everything Rob’s ever done, he does the best he can possibly do, and it always turns out great,” Tonelli said. “And I’m sure he’ll do the same in his role at USF.”

    The fact that Higgins kept that letter all these years tells you everything you need about the new chief executive officer of USF Athletics. That love was on display at his introductory press conference that included fanfare, cheerleaders, Rocky the Bull and an array of Tampa Bay sports dignitaries.

    “This is a celebration of appreciation,” Higgins said. “A celebration of Bull pride and a celebration of USF’s rightful place among the hierarchy of team Tampa Bay.”

    The fact that Higgins doesn’t carry the athletic director title, like those who came before him, and instead is CEO of the athletics department speaks volumes about the evolution of college sports. While addressing the crowd and talking about why Higgins was their choice, USF Board of Trustees chair Will Weatherford proudly declared Higgins not only USF’s first CEO of athletics, but the nation’s first.

    “Where we’re going is very different from where we’ve been,” Weatherford said. “And for us to think about what it takes to run an athletics program at a university today is completing different than what it took 10 years ago.”

    Higgins is prepared to wear his green and gold heart on his sleeve and roll up those sleeves and get to work. His No. 1 focus is the student-athletes. He said he wants their experience from the moment they set foot on the USF campus until they leave to be a next-level one.

    “My focus and my excitement and what our team will bring to the table is making sure we do anything and everything we can to elevate USF Athletics’ next chapter,” Higgins said.

    Katherine Smith

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  • USF’s Golesh says physical toughness should lead to success for Bulls

    TAMPA, Fla. — Everything you need to know about USF’s head coach is happening on the field.

    There’s fun. There’s inclusion. There’s pure joy. And of course, there’s football. 

    What You Need To Know

    • USF Coach Alex Golesh is entering his third season as the Bulls’ coach

    • Last season, his team went 7-6 and defeated San Diego State in the Hawai’i Bowl

    • Golesh says physical toughness can help the team continue to build on its success

    • Get the latest on the upcoming season with Spectrum Sports’ 30-minute College Football Preview Show at 6:30 p.m. Thursday

    Coach Alex Golesh claims Victory Day is his favorite day of the year. And it’s easy to see why. No one was keeping score, but before USF kicked off the regular season, Golesh posted his first W. Everybody won at Victory Day, an annual event when the USF Bulls football team gives back to the community by hosting Special Olympics Florida athletes for an evening of football drills, agility challenges and scoring touchdowns.

    “I get an opportunity to meet so many cool families that are from right here in Tampa — that look forward to this night every year,” Golesh said. “There’s nothing cooler.”

    Golesh, entering his third season with the Bulls, has spent his time at USF building and molding this program. It’s taken on the identity of its leadership, which includes its redheaded head coach.

    “You want to be a physically tough football team. That’s always been who I am, whether as a position coach, an offensive coordinator, certainly as a head coach,” Golesh said. “You want a physically tough team. You should be able to turn the game on and say, ‘Man, like, those dudes are all over the place.’ ” 

    Tough and successful, that’s the goal. The Bulls are coming off a 7-6 season, one that they capped off with an exciting, 41-39 five-overtime win against San Diego State in the Hawai’i Bowl.


    There are exciting times off the field, too, as the school’s on-campus stadium is finally under construction.

    Golesh can see the progress from his office, and he said he’s hoping to see the progress of his team on the football field this season. And that fans take notice.

    “You’re fighting to have a hope, then a belief, then now, a true expectation of winning,” Golesh said. “I want them to walk out and say, ‘Man, that is a really, really physical team that plays together and that won’t quit.’ I think if they walk out and say that, I think we’ve done our job.”

    That’s Victory Day, every day.

    Katherine Smith

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  • Bucs rookie Desmond Watson plays larger than life

    TAMPA, Fla. — You couldn’t miss Desmond Watson at the Bucs Rookie Camp if you tried. He literally stood out.

    What You Need To Know

    •  The Tampa Bay Bucs signed Desmond Watson as an undrafted free agent

    •  Watson starred on the football field for the University of Florida and Armwood High School

    • Down more than 30 pounds from his weight during the Florida Gators 2025 Pro Day, he is still the heaviest player in the history of the NFL, but says he doesn’t want to be defined by his size


    One of the Bucs’ newest players was head and shoulders above the other newbies on the team. When you are 6 feet, 6 inches tall and weigh a little over 430 pounds, you’re going to stand out.

    Watson gets it. He knows people are talking about his size, but soon, he wants them to be talking about his play on the field.

    “I don’t want that to be my narrative and things like that,” he said. “I want to be known as a football player, and good football player at that.”

    Watson is working hard to bring his weight down, and he already has from the 464 pounds he weighed at the Florida Gators 2025 Pro Day. He said he would like to get down to his playing weight when he starred on the football field for the Armwood Hawks.

    His high school coach, Evan Davis, recalled how Watson took over games. How he towered over offensive linemen. How he looked like a man amongst boys. But mostly, he remembered how much fun Watson had on the football field.

    “He’s one of the smartest football players,” Davis said. “Even though he plays in the interior on the defense, he can tell you what the safety and the cornerback’s doing. He knows the offense, it will allow him to play even faster. And obviously, he’s just a force of nature physically.”

    In the Armwood weight room where Watson put in a lot of hours, his mom, Deonzia Woullard, watched video of him practicing with the Bucs for the first time. She couldn’t help but beam with pride. Watson’s No. 1 fan also happens to be a lifelong Tampa Bay fan. His dad rooted for the Pittsburgh Steelers, resulting in Watson dressed in Steelers colors as a baby. But it was his mom who dressed him in Bucs red days after he was born to celebrate the team’s first Super Bowl win.

    “He knows what he has to do to get there, and he’s working hard to get there,” Deonzia said. “He knows he’s not entitled. He knows it’s not just going to be given to him. And he’s just doing what he needs to do to get there.”

    The NFL is going to be a different challenge for Watson.

    And his weight isn’t the only number he’s changing. At Armwood and Florida, he wore No. 21. For the Bucs, he’ll wear No. 56. But 21 will always be his motivational number. It’s the number his younger brother Dyson wore when he played youth football. Dyson’s playing career ended when he suffered a stroke at the age of 5. He’s been confined to a wheelchair ever since. Watson said he plays in his honor.

    “In honor of him not being able to play anymore,” he said. “I guess I can use that number and be in the spotlight and get my number called just to put a smile on his face.”

    Katherine Smith

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  • Gators’ Coach Golden is having so much fun, why not do it again

    SARASOTA, Fla. — Want to be inspired? Share the same space as a group of kids who have battled cancer.

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden attended his first Dick Vitale Gala
    • The pediatric cancer patients inspired him

    • Golden and the Florida Gators have been celebrating their National Championship at various events across the state

    • Golden was rewarded with a six-year, $40.5 million contract extension, making him one of the highest paid college basketball coaches


    Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden was overwhelmed with inspiration when he attended his first Dick Vitale Gala. In 20 years of shining a spotlight on pediatric cancer, Vitale has helped raise nearly $100 million to battle the disease.

    He enlists the help of his sports celebrity friends and this year, Golden lent his support.

    “I’m just grateful for what you’ve done for me over these past few years in welcoming down here in Florida, allowing me to be a part of your event,” Golden said to Vitale.

    The gala was another chance for Golden and the Gators to be celebrated. It’s been only five weeks since Florida clinched its third national championship with a thrilling come-from-behind victory over Houston. But in that short time span, the Gators have been honored and celebrated at various events.

    Golden said he and his team have felt the love.

    “Gainesville is a place that expects championships,” he said. “And it had been a while, a couple of decades since we had been able to do it in either basketball or football. And to be able to bring a national championship back to Gainesville has kind of reinvigorated the town and it’s been something that’s really special to us.”

    The last time the Gators’ men’s basketball program won a title, they did it twice. Back-to-back championships. So how does Coach Golden feel about Florida’s shot at a repeat?

    “It’s obviously a really challenging thing to do,” Golden said. “But I really like the group we have coming back. We’ve been able to add a few key pieces and for the most part, retain our staff and we have some really good continuity. So I’m excited to see what we’ll be able to accomplish next year.”

    Katherine Smith

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  • Elite international archery competition makes its Florida debut

    AUBURNDALE, Fla. — In competitive archery, the arrow can travel distances up to 230 feet.

    For Casey Kaufhold, the sport has actually taken her so much farther.

    What You Need To Know

    • Auburndale played host to the Central Florida Hyundai Archery World Cup

    • More than 300 archers from all over the world competed

    • Casey Kaufhold, who represented the United States in the past two Olympics, was one of the top competitors. She said Florida was a great destination for the sport and hopes to attract more fans


    It has literally taken her around the world. She has represented the United States in two Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the 2024 Paris games. Archery has opened up a lot of doors for Casey.

    “It’s something that I’ve worked towards for so long, and I’ve dreamed of since I was 12 years old,” Kaufhold said.

    That’s how this Pennsylvania native ended up in Polk County. Kaufhold participated in the Central Florida Hyundai Archery World Cup from April 8 to 13. It’s the first time this elite international event featuring more than 300 athletes from all over the world has been hosted in Florida.

    Organizers said they hope to host two other qualifying events leading up to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

    Kaufhold had high praise for the Auburndale facilities and sees a future for archery in Florida.

    “I shot a bow for the first time when I was 3 years old,” she said. “So to have that experience at such a young age, I just really fell in love with it, and we did it for fun in the backyard for so long, and I’m just a naturally competitive person. You give me a scorecard, and I just run with it.”

    Kaufhold is somewhat of a trailblazer in this sport. She’s the first American female to hold a world No. 1 ranking. And while she strives to be the very best in her discipline, she is equally dedicated to the sport she fell in love with at a very young age. She is very aware that there are a lot of young, impressionable eyes watching her at events.

    And she said she hopes she showcases archery in a way that intrigues them enough to give it a try.

    “Other than, of course, winning medals, a big goal of my career is to inspire other people to shoot,” Kaufhold said. “Whether it’s recreationally, whether it’s for hunting, whether to do something like this one day, I just want to get the word of archery out there because I just want people behind a bow.”

    Katherine Smith

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  • South Carolina to face UConn in NCAA women’s basketball championship

    TAMPA, Fla. — “Four it all.” That’s the motto of this year’s Women’s Final Four. Two teams have emerged with a shot at the national championship.

    And both these teams know what it takes to win it all. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Defending champs South Carolina defeated Texas with a dominating 74-57 win, while UConn extended its win streak to 15 by taking out UCLA, 85-51

    • The UConn Huskies are a win away from a 12th national title

    • The South Carolina Gamecocks are going for the repeat and they would be the first team to do it since UConn won four straight from 2013-16


    Two teams punched their ticket to Sunday’s national championship game. Defending champs South Carolina took care of business against Texas with a dominating 74-57 win, while UConn extended its win streak to 15 by taking out UCLA, 85-51.

    In the first semifinal of the night, South Carolina fell behind early to Texas, who advanced to the Final Four for the first time since 2003. But just as they have throughout the tournament, the Gamecocks proved no deficit is too big. Their outside shots started falling just before the end of the first half and they took the lead, extending their streak to 104 straight wins when leading at the half.

    “Proud of our team. Proud of our depth. Proud players that chose to come here, and they really get the experience being at a Final Four and now the national championship,” said South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley.

    In the second semi of the night, UConn built an early lead on UCLA and never looked back. The Bruins made their Final Four debut and came to Tampa as the overall No. 1 seed. But the Huskies flexed its dynasty muscle. In three straight games, the Huskies have outscored opponents by an average of 23 points. Now, they are a win away from a 12th national title.

    “We prayed, we prepared, and we hoped to be playing on the last day of the season,” said UConn guard Paige Bueckers. “We got that opportunity, so we don’t want to take it for granted.”

    South Carolina’s going for the repeat and they would be the first team to do it since UConn won four straight from 2013-16.

    Katherine Smith

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  • Four on the floor: Woman’s tip-offs set for Tampa tonight

    TAMPA, Fla. — All roads have led to Tampa.

    The top four teams in the women’s game are getting ready to battle it out on the basketball court.

    And one of them will emerge as the national champion this weekend at Amalie Arena.


    Texas takes on South Carolina in the opening national semifinal at 7 p.m.

    Connecticut will face UCLA in the second game, scheduled to start around 9 p.m.

    Sell out crowds of 30,000 are expected for the games and Sunday’s championship game, set for 3 p.m.  

    South Carolina is going for two in a row. It would be the Gamecocks third championship in the past four years.

    Standing in their way, the Texas Longhorns with arguably the toughest defense in the tournament. Texas is making a return to the Fina Four for the first time since 2003.

    The other matchup pits a first timer, UCLA, against a juggernaut.

    The Bruins are in the Final Four for the first time in school history. But the Bruins are not just happy to be here.

    They’re the overall No. 1 seed ready to take on the hottest team in the women’s game right now, the UConn Huskies. Winners of a record 11 national championships and riding a 14-game win streak into Tampa.

    “Obviously there’s expectations here,” said UConn guard Paige Bueckers abut the Huskies’ pedigree. “And anything less than a national championship is really a disappointment. As players, that’s what you play for and what you want to live up to. And the expectations and the pressure, it’s a privilege.” 

    This a record-fourth time Tampa has hosted the Women’s Final Four.

    No city has hosted this many.

    Here’s a look at the matchups:

    South Carolina vs. Texas

    The teams split two regular-season meetings, winning on their home courts. The Gamecocks took the rubber match, winning the SEC Tournament title by 17 points. The Gamecocks have won three titles in the past eight years, but this year’s squad has been tested in the postseason. They won both games in the Birmingham Regional by four points, topping Maryland and Duke.

    In their victories over Texas this season, the Gamecocks held the Longhorns under 30% shooting. In South Carolina’s loss, Texas shot 44%.

    “Ton of experiences to draw from and learn from,” Texas coach Vic Schaefer said. “Got to learn and be different. That’s the thing about their team, Dawn’s teams. You know you’ll get the same from them that you try to impart on others too. They are going to be tough, aggressive, physical. If you don’t bring an edge with you at the fight it won’t be much fun.”

    There’s plenty of star power on both teams with Rori Harmon and Madison Booker leading Texas while Joyce Edwards, Chloe Kitts and MiLaysia Fulwiley are the top players for the Gamecocks.

    Texas is in the Final Four for the first time since 2003. Schaefer became the fifth coach to take at least two teams to the Final Four, joining Marianne Stanley, Gary Blair and Kim Mulkey. C. Vivian Stringer took three schools to the national semifinals. Schaefer led Mississippi State to the championship games in 2017 and 2018.

    UConn vs. UCLA

    The Bruins have a dominant post player in 6-foot-7 Lauren Betts who has been unstoppable in the tournament. She had consecutive 30-point, 10-rebound games in the second round and the Sweet 16. She played through foul trouble in the Elite Eight and finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and six blocks.

    UConn will have to figure out a way to slow her down. While Betts has been dominant, no player has been better than Bueckers, who’s clearly driven to conclude her incredible college career with a national championship.

    She’s had a bit of help with the stellar play of Azzi Fudd and freshman Sarah Strong, who has put together one of the best seasons for a first-year player in school history. 

    Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

    Katherine Smith

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  • USF Bulls prepared for a tournament run earlier in the season

    TAMPA, Fla. — USF’s path to the NCAA Tournament has been paved brick by brick.

    And the journey can be traced all the way back to the first two months of the season.

    What You Need To Know

    •  The USF women’s basketball team punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament with a win over Rice in the AAC Championship game.

    •  The Bulls will face Tennessee in the first round of the tournament. 

    •  Coach Jose Fernandez credits a bulked up scheduled in November and December for getting them to the dance.


    In that span, the Bulls played four ranked opponents, including UConn, South Carolina and Duke. It helped set them up for the road they are on now.

    “I knew all along this was a tournament team, and that’s why we scheduled the way we scheduled in November and December,” Head Coach Jose Fernandez said.

    The strength of schedule has made this team strong at a critical time as they prepare for their first-round opponent, Tennessee. The Bulls drew the No. 12 seed in Region 3 and they open the tournament having won 12 of their last 14 games. It’s the kind momentum that can fuel a long run.

    “I feel like everyone brings so many different things,” USF point guard Mama Dembele said. “And the moment we are all in the same page, I feel like we’re kind of unstoppable.

    The Bulls took three straight days to win three straight games to claim the AAC Championship and secure the automatic berth into the tournament. It’s the 10th time in the program’s history they have punched their ticket to the dance. One thing they’ve never done, advance to the second weekend. USF is seeking its one shining moment.

    “Everyone is going to have their own moment,” Dembele said. “So it’s time to shine, to step up, and to just have so much fun. I think when we have fun is when we’re at our best.”

    Katherine Smith

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  • USF’s point guard brings a mother’s instinct to the court

    TAMPA, Fla. — Everything you need to know about USF’s pint-sized point guard is in her first name.

    What You Need To Know

    • USF point guard Mama Dembele leads the AAC with 2.4 steals per game. She leads her team with 5.4 assists per game

    • Mama was named the AAC Defensive Player of the Year

    • This tenacious point guard has the Bulls on track to do great things in the AAC tournament


    Mama Dembele sets a tone for the Bulls with her tenacious, relentless style of play. And just like her namesake, she’s a nurturer. She takes care of her team.

    “It don’t matter how big you are or how small you are, you really have to want it and sacrifice your body for the team,” she said. “I think that’s what really excites me cause then people can see that I really care about the team and I just want to set the tone from the beginning.”

    Mama is 5-foot, 6-inches of pure pride and determination. Born in the West African country of Mali and raised in Spain, she brings a unique perspective and concentrated vision to USF.

    Her American Athletic Conference leading 2.4 steals per game, coupled with her team-leading 5.4 assists per game have put the Bulls in position to make some noise at the conference tournament. Her performance this season earned her AAC Defensive Player of the Year honors.

    “Not a lot of times they reward little guards playing defense,” Mama said. “It’s more about the blocks and those numbers are more impressive, so of course I was really happy.”

    After transferring from Missouri, where she was the SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year and SEC All-Defensive Player, Mama’s loosened up on the court. Her new home with the Bulls gave her freedom to really let her game speak for itself.

    “They just let me be myself,” she said. “They were like, we know you like to play defense, you like to gamble a little bit, go for the steals, so just go for it and we have your back.”

    And she’s got the Bulls’ back. And she’s got them on track to make a run at the AAC Tournament, just by being herself and playing her game.

    “Just going out there and giving my all, it might be steals, it might be deflections, I don’t really care,” Mama said. “That is something that I really take a lot of pride in.”

    Katherine Smith

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  • USF makes sure love wins for Coach Abdur-Rahim

    TAMPA, Fla. — This one was for Coach.

    This was the kind of game former University of South Florida head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim would have loved.

    What You Need To Know

    • The University of South Florida (USF) and the American Athletic Conference (AAC) honored their late basketball coach, Amir Abdur-Rahim, during the Bulls’ double overtime victory against Temple.

    • The AAC named Abdur-Rahim the honorary Coach of the Year and also presented a $15,000 check to the Future Foundation
    • The AAC will also annually present the Amir Abdur-Rahim Sportsmanship Award to a men’s basketball player.

    •  Abdur-Rahim passed away unexpectedly last October


    It was gritty. It went into double overtime. It was emotional. No way would USF lose this game.

    “Every guy was locked in before the game and we did a good job of preparation throughout the week,” USF guard Kobe Knox said. “So we knew what coming into this game and winning the game meant for everybody.”

    This was for Coach Abdur-Rahim. On the same night USF defeated Temple, the Bulls’ former coach was honored by the American Athletic Conference. First, with the AAC’s honorary Coach of the Year award, presented to his family. Then, with a check for $15,000, his contracted bonus for Coach of the Year recognition, made out to the Future Foundation.

    Family members of USF basketball head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim accept the Coach of the Year award on his behalf. (Spectrum Sports 360)

    “I think it’s the least we can do,” AAC Commissioner Tim Pernetti said. “He’s had a short-term permanent impact on the American and he deserves to be honored in this way forever.”

    Coach Abdur-Rahim had spent only a year in the AAC, but he left an indelible mark. And when he passed away unexpectedly in October, just before the start of the season, the league wanted to find ways to honor him.

    His legacy will continue with the annual AAC Amir Abdur-Rahim Sportsmanship Award, given to the men’s basketball player who best exemplifies fair play and leadership.

    “To see the impact that he had, to see that being recognized beyond even his basketball acumen, but to the impact he made on so many,” USF athletic director Michael Kelly said.

    You still see Coach Abdur-Rahim everywhere. He’s in the student section that bears his name. He was on t-shirts with his Love Wins mantra. And he was on the court. These Bulls are playing for the man who taught them to dream big. The man who brought pride back into the USF program.

    “He did something here in one year that this school hadn’t done in over 50 years, in terms of winning a regular season title, and that shows his basketball acumen,” Kelly said. “But he did it by connecting people.”

    Katherine Smith

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  • USF women’s basketball showing some serious puppy love

    TAMPA, Fla. — Every dog has its day.

    That’s why the USF Bulls are dedicating a game day to the dogs.

    What You Need To Know

    •  The USF women’s basketball team is hosting Temple on Saturday at 7 p.m. for their annual Dog Adoption Game

    •  There will be several local pet rescue and shelter organizations on hand with information about adoption

    •  Fans are also encouraged to bring pet food and supplies to be donated to the various shelters


    The women’s basketball team was treated to some special guests at a recent practice — the Bulls opened up their practice court to pair of puppies.

    At Saturday’s game against Temple, they’re opening up the Yuengling Center to the dogs, to shine a spotlight on several Tampa Bay pet rescue and animal shelters, a cause near and dear to USF head coach Jose Fernandez.

    “I think there’s an incredible need, not only in the Tampa Bay community, but all over the United States to get these guys a nice home,” Fernandez said.

    Coach Fernandez and his wife, Tonya, have opened their home to rescue dogs. They currently have eight dogs.

    Eight dogs that were unwanted and abandoned, until the Fernandez’s opened up their home and their hearts.

    “It’s unconditional love. You can have whatever day that you have, whether it’s good or bad, and when you come home, the excitement,” he said.

    That’s what the Bulls are hoping their annual Dog Adoption Awareness Game on Saturday will showcase — the importance of adopting, not shopping.

    With so many available dogs in shelters all over the Bay Area, especially after back-to-back hurricanes wreaked havoc and landed many more animals in the shelters, the need for forever homes is paramount.

    “Anything we can do to help these guys find a home, these little guys and gals find a home,” Tonya Fernandez said. “There’s just so many. There’s so many dogs out there who need homes.”

    There will be several local shelter and rescues organizations at the game, including:

    Katherine Smith

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  • Heart of the team: Hudson High senior delivers plays and inspiration

    Heart of the team: Hudson High senior delivers plays and inspiration

    HUDSON, Fla. — No Hudson High football game can begin before the head coach and team manager meet up.

    What You Need To Know

    • Cobras head coach Timothy Hicks can’t kick off until he’s taken the handoff from Hudson senior Dakota Schull with the list of winning plays

    • Dakota suffers from Prader-Willi syndrome, a disorder that affects his physical and mental development

    • He is living his best high school life by showing the true meaning of team


    Cobras head coach Timothy Hicks can’t kick off until he’s taken the handoff from Hudson senior Dakota Schull with the list of winning plays.

    Dakota works hard on those plays. He meticulously writes each one down on a piece of paper. And even though he’s never played a down of football, he knows the sport. And he’d give anything to be able to play it. But Dakota suffers from Prader-Willi syndrome, a disorder that affects his physical and mental development.

    “What he’s gaining out of this is memories and experiences,” Dakota’s mom Wanda said. “He knows he can’t play, but he feels like he is.”

    That’s the key, being a part of something. Being accepted by his peers. And being celebrated for the miracle that he is. Wanda Schull was told her son wouldn’t live past the age of 10. His disorder causes low muscle tone and that includes his heart. His rare genetic disorder can cause congenital heart defects. But Dakota has continually shown he’s all heart.

    “They told us he wasn’t going to make it,” Wanda said. “And here we are senior year, gonna graduate and we are blessed.”

    Dakota has never taken a snap and run the football. He’s never made a tackle. But he is just as much a part of the team as every player on the roster.

    “It means the world for a child to be a part of something, any child,” Wanda said. “So we are just blessed because we are accepted whether we can do it or not. And that’s what means a lot. It really means a whole lot.”

    Dakota’s living his best high school life by showing the true meaning of team.

    Katherine Smith

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  • 4th annual Rowdies 9/11 Stair Climb honors those lost on Sept. 11, 2001

    4th annual Rowdies 9/11 Stair Climb honors those lost on Sept. 11, 2001

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — One by one, they climbed the stairs.

    Each step was symbolic, and each one was made in remembrance of the first responders who lost their lives in the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Tampa Bay Rowdies 4th annual 9/11 Stair Climb took place Wednesday at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg
    • The team opened up their stadium where participants walked or ran 2,200 steps, or 110 stories, which is the amount of stairs first responders took when they ran into the World Trade Center after the attacks

    •  Included in the more than 200 participants were several Bay area firefighters, some of whom wore their full gear


    In total, those that gathered at Al Lang Stadium Wednesday morning took 2,200 steps, or 110 stories, which is the amount of stairs first responders took when they ran into the World Trade Center on 9/11. It’s one of the most enduring images from that day — while people ran out of the buildings, first responders ran into them.

    “They knew they were running into danger,” Pinellas County Commissioner Brian Scott said. “They weren’t expecting not to come home.”

    Of the more than 200 participants in the Rowdies event, several firefighters from all over the Bay area climbed the stairs, and some did it in their full gear, just like the firefighters who ran into the World Trade Center

    “I have all the respect in the world for these guys who are in their full gear doing this today,” Scott said. “And I can only imagine what it was like going up the stairs in the World Trade Center as people are going the other way. As they’re running toward danger and smoke and dust, and God knows what else.”

    Many people still remember where they were on Sept. 11, 2001. Coast Guard Capt. Michael Kahle was in a leadership class when the first plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center. When the second hit, he said he knew the country was under attack.

    Kahle said that fear soon subsided and was replaced with pride in how the country unified, just like those that paid their respects in steps at the Rowdies stadium.

    “Being here on 9/11, doing this, it really does reignite that sense of singularity for the American public,” Kahle said. “We came together at the time, amongst that tragedy, and it really is a vivid reminder of what it means to live in America and the sacrifices that people make every day — our first responders and the military — to preserve this.”

    Katherine Smith

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