Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular

June 23, 2025

This was a slower week for college sports overall as now most of the work is being done behind the scenes to define the House settlement and try to calm the chaos around college sports.

It wasn’t a slow time for Bret Bielema and the Fighting Illini football program who earned commitments from Kayden Bennett, Kai Prichard, Isaiah Williams, and Nick Hankins. All are at least 3-star recruits, and most are 4-star recruits depending upon the ratings service you follow.

Bielema is on a recruiting hot streak that might have been equaled by Ron Zook and there’s a chance Bielema’s streak might possibly be the hottest an Illini football coach has been in…forever.

Hail Mary #1 – If the Illini Football Program’s Return to Greatness was a Movie…

The Illini football program is poised to return to greatness under Bret Bielema. It’s fair to say one can debate if the Illini football program has ever hit “greatness” in the first place. No matter the answer to the “greatness” question, certainly Bielema is the first accomplished college football coach on the Illini sidelines since John Mackovic put on the headset for Illinois.

If one were to make a movie of this season, of Bielema taking the Illini football program to the College Football Playoff, most would consider a CFP berth to be an obstacle that most fans would believe to be unthinkable. Why would they think that? Because it’s a goal that is so darn hard that the Illini haven’t ever approached achieving it.

To have a great movie, novel or story, you must have a great villain. The Illini have quite a few obstacles to overcome. When combined, these obstacles block the path to success in a way as threatening and intimidating as a Thanos-level villain would. Let’s take a look at the obstacles faced by the Illini:

• The Illini football program has never been great – it may have had fantastic players like Red Grange, Dick Butkus and David Williams – but the football program has never experienced sustained success.
• The football program has only had two solid coaches since 1980 – just Mike White and John Mackovic. The rest have created a massive hole for Bielema to lift the program out of. Thank goodness Josh Whitman chose Bret Bielema to head the Illini football program.
• The B1G is a top-heavy conference with sharks like Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Oregon and USC at the top trying to eat any competition that rises from the depths.
• The University of Illinois resides in a small town without the metro areas that Ohio State, USC and Michigan can rely upon for their NIL fundraising efforts.

In the movie world, obstacles like this don’t prevent the story from having a negative conclusion if there is a hero to overcome them. In fact, obstacles like these make the success at the end of the film ultimately creates the hero that the public wants.

Thus, the film also needs a hero. Bielema has ridden into town and single-handedly cleaned up the lawless city. Clint Eastwood couldn’t have done a better job.

Bielema has the Illini on the verge of a potentially historic season for Illinois. No one is guaranteeing the Illini will have their second 10-win season back-to-back. Even if the Illini make a bowl for the second season in a row or were to fall short of that mark, they are recruiting the building blocks of future success with each recruit that commits. The bottom line is that there’s a reason for hope in the future while enjoying this season’s success. The Fighting Illini are relevant again.

If there was a movie depicting this Illini football season, Illinois has two paths the plot might take:

1. Fall short of making a bowl and continue the up-and-down nature of Illini football.
2. Win enough to go to a bowl again and maybe even find a way to make the College Football Playoff.

Bielema has decided to follow the path of surrounding himself with successful coaches and players. He didn’t wait for the perfect day to arrive to begin his mission. He began this journey the day he started as the head football coach of the Fighting Illini, back when no one thought last season’s success was remotely possible.

This season is the time for no excuses and by overcoming the obstacles listed above, this year will make for an epic adventure. Coupled with these recruiting successes, it will be the first step of a mythic quest, not just one “high flying” season standing in the midst of ongoing mediocrity.

I think the 2025 Illini football season would make a great movie. The obstacles are there. So is the hero. The team is ready. In a Marvel movie, the heroes would yell, “Avengers, Assemble!” Later this summer, the Thing (of the Fantastic Four) will yell out, “It’s clobberin’ time!”

Lights! Camera! Action!

Heat Check #1 – NIL Could’ve (and Should’ve) Changed the NBA Draft in the Illini’s Favor – An Illini “What If”

We are seeing a reversal in the way the NBA Draft is looked at by collegiate basketball players and their agents. Yes, the “and their agents” part seems crazy to me, but who am I to fight the inevitable march of time and constant change?

There were 363 players who entered their names into the NBA draft early in 2021. This summer, just 106 players have entered the 2025 NBA Draft early. This is the lowest since 2016.

As we have talked on the “IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular” radio show and the “I on the Illini” podcasts, the ability to make money has not only made college more attractive to players, but their agents realize this is the way for many college players who aren’t a “lock” to be NBA players to maximize their earnings. Nowadays, there is no reason to risk a big NIL payday for a G League deal that starts around $40,000 a year or an NBA two-way contract that could make them around $600,000.

How times have changed. The NIL dollars can be substantial with deals that dwarf the $600,000 best case option for players on the edge. This means we will see college teams become deeper (if they can afford it) and become older (if they can afford it). Overall, the college game will get better, teams will be more experienced, and the quality of ball will improve.

Not everything is bad about the NIL world.

The biggest “what if” is what if Kofi Cockburn had been surrounded by competent advisors when his time to choose between the NBA Draft and staying at Illinois with a superior NIL deal in place for him.

Kofi improved each year by 3 – 4 points per game and a rebound a game. If he had taken advantage of the two additional years he could’ve played, Kofi might have averaged 24 points and 11 games his senior year and 27 and 12 his COVID year. He might’ve been the NCAA all-time leader in rebounds – and who knows how good the Illini might’ve been. While he wasn’t an NBA player, Kofi was an incredible collegiate player.

The NBA Draft has been changed forever by the effects of NIL. Illini fans just wish Kofi’s advisors had been smart enough to see what most Illini fans that the NIL deal was the better deal.

If the Bruins had won either of the top two slots in the lottery, we’d be able to narrow down their choice pretty easily. The top two picks are locked in, at least according to most draftniks and mock drafters. Defenseman Matthew Schaefer and center Michael Misa are slated to go 1-2.

But after that, it’s a free-for-all. Opinions differ wildly about where certain players will go between No. 3 and No. 10. The B’s, who got bumped down two slots from their fifth-worst finish to have the No. 7 overall pick, should get a decent prospect in that spot (unless they trade out of it, of course). History, however, says that there will be a lemon or two in the top 10. Given their situation, it is imperative the B’s avoid them.

Here are eight players whom the B’s could draft on Friday night. Given the organizational need to draft and develop on a No. 1 centerman, we’ve listed the pivots first. Other than that, there is no order:

* Brady Martin, C, Soo Greyhounds , OHL – There was a day when the Bruins’ lineup was dominated by good ol’ Canadian farm boys. Not so much anymore. After Brad Marchand left, Morgan Geekie, Parker Wotherspoon and newly acquired Fraser Minten were the only players from Canada on the roster down the stretch. Not that great players aren’t being produced all around the world, including right in our own backyard, but Martin would be a throw-back Bruin-type. Raised on an Ontario dairy farm, Martin is now a strapping 6-foot, 186-pound right shot centerman. He was played in all situations for the Greyhounds, notching 33-39-72 totals in 57 games. Martin is a tough, hard-hitting player player who plays a well-rounded game. At the scouting combine, Martin confirmed that the B’s took him out to dinner that week, so the team is at least intrigued by the player.

* Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford Bulldogs, OHL – The 6-foot-2, 177-pound right-shot O’Brien has some David Krejci-like characteristics. He’s a cerebral, pass-first pivot who has the ability to slow the game down, ripping up the OHL for 32-66-98 totals in 66 games. He has high-end vision and hockey IQ. A little lanky, O’Brien could use some strengthening, especially in his lower body, that would improve his skating. Overall, his spindly frame needs some filling out to help in battles, even though he’s shown a willingness to stick his nose into those. And, if he’s going to be a centerman, he needs to improve on faceoffs after finishing below 45%.

* Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL – The 6-foot-2, 178 pound left-shot pivot led Moncton to the Q championship before the Wildcats fell to the London Knights in the Memorial Cup. He topped Moncton with 35-49-84 totals in 56 games. Pretty good totals for a player who’d been dealing with two injured wrists since November. While some have given him the rather backhanded compliment of being the “safe” pick, one scout said recently, “He’s the guy you want on the ice in the last minute taking the defensive zone draw and protecting a one-goal lead. He’s a winner.” Some mock drafts have him going higher than where the B’s are picking at No. 7, some have him going below. If he’s there at 7, the B’s should pounce.

* James Hagens, C, Boston College – Hagens began last season ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the world. Unlike Macklin Celebrini, who went first overall last June, he wasn’t a freshman phenom. He was just merely very, very good for the Eagles, starting on BC’s top line as a 17-year-old. He tumbled a little bit, as Matthew Schaefer and Michael Misa overtook him. But he will be a top-10 pick, it’s just a matter of where he goes. Centering first-rounders Ryan Leonard and Gabriel Perrault, he had 11-26-37 totals in 37 games for the Eagles. Those numbers suggest a pass-first mentality but, if you’re playing with those two players, it makes sense to get them the puck. At 5-foot-11, 177-pounds, inside ice is not the easiest to access for him but he’s got an impressive skill level.

* Anton Frondell, C, Djurarden, Swe-2 – Some have Frondell going in the top three, others are not so enamored of the solid 6-foot, 196-pound left-shot pivot. He’s had some inconsistency to his game, both in club and international play. While there’s a question as to how big of an impact Frondell will have, there seems to be little doubt that he’s an NHL player. But is he a lead dog or a middle-six center? Unlike some centers in this batch, he’s of the shoot-first variety who can beat the goalie from distance. He’s one of the heavier-playing centers but concerns about his fitness level were calmed by a strong scouting combine earlier this month.

* Roger McQueen, C, Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL – The 6-foot-5, 197-pound right-shot pivot has perhaps the greatest upside of anyone in the draft, but he also carries the biggest red flag. He missed most of the past season in Brandon with back problems. When he played, he was good, recording 10-10-20 in 17 games, but he just didn’t play enough. The B’s wouldn’t exactly be going off the board with McQueen – most mock drafts having him going in the top dozen – but it would take a pretty good gamble from GM Don Sweeney. They also drafted a similarly-framed center last season with Dean Letourneau, who struggled to produce from a fourth line spot at BC.

* Porter Martone, RW, Brampton, OHL – One of the non-centers on this list of possibilities, Martone is the kind of power forward over which many Bruins fans salivate. He’s 6-foot-3 and 208 pounds and, as that size suggests, he’s not that fleet of foot, but he brings a physicality. But he’s also got high-end skill and playmaking abilities, potting 37 goals and 98 points in 57 games. That combo of size and skill may trigger a team to take him before No. 7, but it will be interesting if he’s still around when the B’s are picking.

* Victor Eklund, LW, Djurgarden, Swe-2 – The B’s may have their quota of small and skilled Swedish wingers filled with Fabian Lysell, but the 5-foot-11, 165-pound Eklund is billed as a player who punches above his weight class. He’s a high-energy, ultra-competitive player who has the potential to drive a line from the wing. As a teammate of Frondell’s, Eklund had 19-12-31 totals in 42 games for Djurgarden. While the heart has not been questioned, there is no getting around the size disadvantage. He will need to get stronger. But the burst and creativity he has could be enticing.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A sea of red took over Fort Lauderdale Beach on Sunday as thousands of Florida Panthers fans gathered to celebrate a historic moment: back-to-back Stanley Cup championships.

From first-time spectators to lifelong season ticket holders, each fan had their own story that made the parade personal.

WATCH BELOW: Fans celebrate ‘amazing’ back-to-back Stanley Cup championships

Panther fans celebrate ‘amazing’ back-to-back Stanley Cup championships

Children danced, parents set up lawn chairs, and young fans dreamed big.

“Is the trophy heavy?” WPTV reporter Matt Sczesny asked young fan Owen.

“No,” he replied, beaming.

“Do you play hockey, Owen?” Sczesny asked Owen.

“Yes, I’m learning,” he said.

For fans like Owen, the championship win is a spark that could ignite a lifelong love for the game.

But for others, the celebration was the payoff after decades of loyalty.

“Season ticket holders since day one. We’ve seen it all, highs, lows, all of those years not winning anything. So these last few years have been amazing,” one fan shared.

The energy was electric, the message clear: South Florida is officially a hockey town.

“This is a great moment for South Florida that proves we are a hockey town, and we love it!” one fan shouted proudly.

“We have been fans since ’93, ’94 when they started. We have been absolute rockstar fans! We love you!” another added.

The celebration welcomed both long-time loyalists and brand-new supporters.

“I recently got into hockey this year, and I saw the Finals for the first time,” one fan said.

And while winning one Stanley Cup was historic, winning it twice was euphoric.

“Back-to-back champions, baby, WOOOO!” a fan screamed over the crowd.

Under sunny skies, a welcome contrast to last year’s rain-soaked parade, fans waved flags, wore jerseys, and held up mini Stanley Cups with pride.

“We wouldn’t miss it for the world. We were here last year and remember the rain, so it can’t be beat,” one fan said.

From scorching heat to soaring spirits, the celebration was more than a victory lap; it was a show of heart from a growing hockey community.

Read more of WPTV’s coverage of the Florida Panthers’ second straight title win:

On Friday night, a lifelong dream will come true for James Hagens.

The only question is how early.

The 18-year-old from Boston College is a no-doubt first-rounder in the NHL Entry Draft. The No. 3 ranked North American skater according to NHL Central Scouting, Hagens falls between No. 2 overall and No. 5 in most pre-draft rankings. In a poll at The Athletic, evaluators were unanimous in voting Hagens as the “best hands” in his entire class.

No matter where Hagens goes, he’s going to relish the moment.

That’s the advice he’s received from Boston College teammates like Ryan Leonard, Gabriel Perreault, and Jacob Fowler, all of whom have been drafted in the early rounds over the past two seasons.

“They all say the same thing: Just be grateful. Take it all in,” Hagens said. “It goes by quick. This summer is a little crazy, but this is something you’ll remember for the rest of your life. So these are all really special moments that you have to make sure you cherish with yourself and your family. It’s just something to be grateful for.”

Hagens has a chance to be drafted the highest of the bunch.

‘I’ve had to work for everything’

The son of two teachers, Hagens grew up on Long Island in Hauppauge, NY. His father, Michael, played defenseman for Division III SUNY-Brockport (1997-2000), and was quick to get the family hooked on hockey.

He built a backyard rink and all three of his children took to it.

Hagens’ older brother, Michael, is also a defenseman at Boston College, while his younger sister Emma plays at the Portledge School. Growing up they ventured to Islanders games at Nassau Coliseum and Hagens had a picture with Matt Martin on his bedroom wall. A playmaking forward on the smaller side, he liked watching clips of Blackhawks star Patrick Kane.

After being coaching by his father on the Long Island Royals, Hagens starred at Rhode Island powerhouse Mount St. Charles and the US National Development Team Program before landing at Boston College as a 17-year-old last fall. Feeling he’d accomplished enough after two seasons of juniors, he was ready to raise the bar.

“I wanted to be challenged at the college level,” Hagens said. “I wanted to join Boston College and I wanted to be pushed every day, playing against guys that are older and stronger that will push you and get you ready for the NHL… I knew that it would be the best step in getting me ready.”

Though it all, Hagens has carried a work ethic his parents instilled in him at a young age. When he attended the NHL Combine in June, he was hopeful that it stood out to teams.

“Just how high my compete level is,” Hagens said. “I love winning. I will do anything to win. Something that’s helped me get to the point where I am today is just how hard I’ve been able to work my whole life.

“Nothing has ever come easy. I’ve had to work for everything that I’ve ever gotten before. And that’s something I’m super grateful for. That’s something that’s just within my family. That’s something I was raised up, taught from my parents and my coaches. So going into those meetings, just really expressing how hard I compete and how badly I want to be on a team and hopefully win a Stanley Cup someday.”

‘He has that fire’

When Hagens arrived at Conte Forum, his new coach Greg Brown was struck by his demeanor right away.

“He’s a happy kid,” Brown said. “He comes into the rink every day with a smile. Just excited to be there. You can feel his positive energy when he comes into the locker room.”

As a teenager playing in rough-and-tumble Hockey East, Hagens acclimated to the competition quickly. He was named the Rookie of the Month in November, and once he returned from an exceptional World Juniors tournament — five goals, four assists en route to a Gold Medal — in January, Brown saw Hagens raise the bar even higher.

“You could see when games were tight, that he would elevate and really want to assert himself and try and take over the game,” Brown said. “Or (have) a major impact in the game. So he has that competitiveness. He has that fire.”

Hagens wound up with 37 points (11 goals, 26 assists) in 37 games as a freshman. The goal total wasn’t huge, but Hagens was centering a line with NHL-bound wingers in Leonard and Perrault. He was happy to make the right play to set a teammate up. Hagens just wanted the 27-8-2 Eagles to win games.

Though it wasn’t a Macklin-Celebrini-style explosion, he was pleased to be producing at a point-per-game rate given the level of competition he was facing.

“You’re playing against guys that are 25, 24-year-olds every night,” Hagens said. “It’s tough. It’s hard hockey, but I’m super grateful to be able to have the year I was able to have with the group of guys we did have.”

Away from the rink, there was one other thing that stood out to Brown.

“He cares,” Brown said. “He cares about his teammates. He wants to do the right things. He wants to learn. There’s a lot of — it’s not just going out there to show off his skill package. He wants to play the right way within the frame of the game and that’s not always easy for guys who grow up always being the best guy on the ice. He wants to understand the big picture of how it all works and then be able to be as big a factor as he can within that framework.”

‘Getting drafted has been my dream’

Now comes the uncertainty for Hagens.

After earning spots on the US Development Team and at Boston College, he won’t have agency in where he’s drafted. It could be his hometown Islanders at No. 1 overall, the Bruins at No. 7, or anywhere from East Coast to West.

If he slides to Boston, Hagens said he’d be embrace being a Bruin.

“I love Boston,” Hagens said. “Being at Boston College, we’re right in the middle of Boston there. So it’s a beautiful city. Only great things to say about it. I love it there.”

After the draft, Hagens said he doesn’t know if he’ll be back in Chestnut Hill for another season. That’s a conversation he’ll need to have with the team that drafts him and his family. NHL teams retain the rights of their draft picks throughout their college careers, so there’s no rush for most selections.

Brown would certainly welcome him back with open arms.

“He’s a driver on our team,” Brown said. “A key guy. All over the ice, but especially in offensive situations. He’s able to create offense where there seems to be none, and that’s not an easy thing to do. I also think he would grow his leadership in the locker room and on the ice coming back as a sophomore.”

Over the past year, there’s been plenty of speculation about where he’ll land next, but Hagens is doing his best to embrace the noise. Sooner or later, he knows his name will be called, and he’ll be one step closer to the NHL.

“Honestly, you just kinda have to be grateful about it,” Hagens said. “Being able to hear your name in those conversations and obviously leading up to the draft now, being allowed the opportunity to get drafted into any organization in the league, it’s something you have to be grateful for. It’s one step in your process, but you just have to be ready.

“Getting drafted has been my dream my whole entire life. That’s why I started playing hockey. That’s why I still play. I’m really just grateful for everything right now. The noise will always be there, but you just have to make sure you’re living in the moment.”

Recruiting

Florida State football added two players to its 2026 recruiting class over the weekend — the first being Luke Francis, a potential diamond in the rough from across the pond that will play for Coral Cables High this season as part of the NFL Academy program:

Florida State was his third scholarship offer following Syracuse and Georgia State. He received the FSU offer on June 18 as an offensive lineman (guard) and quickly scheduled an official visit for the following weekend. Check out this nice article from 247’s Chris Nee for some great quotes from Francis after getting the offer. Programs like the Texas Longhorns, Florida Gators, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, and Maryland Terrapins are also interested.

Francis got to match up against powerhouses IMG Academy and De La Salle High School as part of the NFL Academy. His highlights, all on the defensive side of the ball, show that he has decent movement and pursuit for his size. He is difficult to move despite needing to work on his leverage, and when he gets hold of the ball carrier with his insane wingspan it’s a wrap. He has good upper and lower body strength and the developmental tools are apparent.

247Sports Composite has yet to put out a ranking for him, and he’s a bit of an enigma, having only played football for less than two years. As they say, you can’t coach size, and Francis certainly has plenty of it. He’ll undoubtedly be extremely raw coming into college, but the positive side is that he won’t need to unlearn bad habits and will truly be a blank slate for Herb Hand.

On Sunday, the Seminoles added a quarterback to the class, officially flipping four-star Jaden O’Neal:

O’Neal is a 6’3”, 215 quarterback who will play for Mustang High in Oklahoma this season, having previously played high school ball in California. He racked up 30 offers and FSU beat out some major programs for his services in addition to OU. 247Sports Composite has O’Neal as the 205th best player in the nation (14th best QB and the best player in Oklahoma).

O’Neal was a solid commitment to the Sooners until they fired offensive coordinator Seth Littrell and replaced him with Ben Arbuckle. The Sooners continued to recruit other highly-rated quarterback prospects, zeroing in on past FSU target Bowe Bentley in particular, which led O’Neal to start searching elsewhere and eventually decommitting on June 19. After a ton of hard work, the FSU staff completed the flip today.

O’Neal throws a fantastic deep ball and has advanced accuracy at this stage. I’d consider him a top-5 pure passer in this cycle and his mechanics are great. He isn’t as mobile as you’d like to see and therefore isn’t a perfect fit in Gus Malzahn’s offense, but he can certainly operate within it and shows good footwork. This was, quite simply, a recruitment that FSU had to win after failing to gain traction with its two other primary targets in Keisean Henderson and Landon Duckworth.

O’Neal played in 10 games in his junior campaign and totaled 3,040 yards on a 61% completion percentage. He threw 28 touchdowns and only four interceptions. His sophomore season resulted in 2,475 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions on a 61% completion percentage in 11 games.

The Seminoles did lose a commit — three-star offensive lineman Xaiver Payne. From our recruiting thread:

Florida State Recruiting Class of 2026

Football

All Sports

Florida State baseball’s Jamie Arnold, Alex Lodise and Myles Bailey all tacked on additional All-American honors over the weekend, this time from Baseball America:

This is the fourth All-America honors this season for Arnold and Lodise and the second for Bailey. The trio was recognized by Perfect Game on June 10, with Arnold and Lodise on the First Team and Bailey on the Freshman First Team. The NCBWA named Arnold and Lodise First Team All-Americans on June 11, while the ABCA bestowed Arnold with First Team distinction and Lodise with Second Team accolades on June 13.

To headline the 2025 postseason awards, Lodise was named the recipient of the 2025 Dick Howser Trophy as the national player of the year on June 13. He also is a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award.

The trio helped the Seminoles to a second consecutive NCAA Super Regional appearance in 2025 with a 42-16 record. As they all earned All-ACC honors, FSU went 17-10 in the conference and finished in second place with a .630 winning percentage. The ACC runner-up finish and No. 2 seed at the conference tournament were the team’s best since 2014. Arnold and Lodise were both selected as team captains in 2025.

FSU soccer has locked in its 2025 schedule:

FSU will play its lone tune-up match at home against Alabama on Friday, August 8, at 6 p.m. before kicking off the regular season with an in-state rivalry match against Florida on Thursday, August 14, at 7 p.m. as previously announced. This marks the earliest start to a season in program history and first meeting between the Seminoles and Gators in an opening match since 2000.

Florida State will host FIU on Sunday, August 17, before making the program’s first visit to Kansas since 2003 on Thursday, August 28. The Seminoles will return to the Sunshine State to host Stetson on September 4 before concluding non-conference play at Florida Atlantic on September 7.

The reigning conference champions will open ACC play at home against Louisville before entering a three-game road stretch in eight days across the Atlantic coast. The away run will begin at Syracuse before facing North Carolina in a rematch of last season’s ACC Tournament Championship where FSU earned its fifth-consecutive title. The Seminoles finish the stretch with a Sunday afternoon battle at NC State.

Florida State will look to extend its five-match winning streak over Miami at home on Friday, October 3, at 7 p.m. before the away match at Notre Dame the following Thursday. The Seminoles will meet Stanford and California on October 16 and October 19, respectively, for the first time in ACC play. FSU will play Stanford for the first time since claiming its fourth national championship in 2023 and host the Cardinal for the first time while the Seminoles welcome California for the first time since 2009.

FSU closes out the regular season with a Thursday night road match at Virginia on October 23 prior to hosting the national runners-up Wake Forest on October 30. Florida State will await the results of conference play to determine seeding and qualification to the 2025 ACC Women’s Soccer Tournament.

2025 Florida State Soccer Schedule

• Aug. 8: Alabama (Home)
• Aug. 14: Florida (Home)
• Aug. 17: FIU (Home)
• Aug. 28: Kansas (Away)
• Sep. 4: Stetson (Home)
• Sep. 7: Florida Atlantic (Away)
• Sep. 11: Louisville (Home)
• Sep. 14: Syracuse (Away)
• Sep. 18: North Carolina (Away)
• Sep. 21: NC State (Away)
• Oct. 3: Miami (Home)
• Oct. 9: Notre Dame (Away)
• Oct. 16: Stanford (Home)
• Oct. 19: California (Home)
• Oct. 23: Virginia (Away)
• Oct. 30: Wake Forest (Home)

Florida State women’s lacrosse announced 14 transfers on Friday:

All 14 incoming student-athletes are transfers from Division I institutions. Four incoming transfers come directly from Atlantic Coast Conference programs and five transfers come directly from Big Ten programs. Four of the last five national champions have come from the ACC while 20 of the last 21 national champions have come from either the ACC or Big Ten conferences.

Sienna Cassella | Midfielder | 5-7 | Bradenton, Fla.| St. Stephen’s Episcopal School/Rutgers

Played first season at Rutgers…appeared in 15 games with three starts…recorded one assist…collected 10 ground balls and 10 draw controls with six caused turnovers…made the dean’s list in both semesters at Rutgers…pursuing her bachelor’s degree in finance…finished high school career with 403 points on 282 goals and 121 assists … also tallied 468 draw controls, 237 ground balls and 157 caused turnovers during time at St. Stephen’s… three-time captain and four-time MVP…led high school to two state appearances and broke every record in school history…three-time USA Lacrosse All-American…USA Lacrosse Academic All American…USA Lacrosse All-American Jackie Pitts Award recipient…two-time New Balance All-American South Highlight Team…two-time USA Today High School Lacrosse Player of the Year…named a 2024 Positive Coaching Alliance Triple-Impact Competitor…four-time First Team All-Area…2024 All USA Today High School National Top 50 Girls Lacrosse Team…member of National Honor Society…played golf in high school…two-time golf team MVP and captain senior year…2023 Saint Stephen’s Falcon Award recipient…loves to golf, bake, and spending time with family…parents are Patrick and Elena Cassella…father played baseball at Tampa…sister to Michael Cassella, who graduated from Florida State…her grandfather, Charles Tomeo, played lacrosse at Fairleigh Dickinson…her uncle, also named Charles Tomeo, was a quarterback at Florida State from 1994-1996.

Kate Christos | Midfielder | 5-7 | Madison, N.J. | Madison High School/San Diego State

Played first four seasons at San Diego State…appeared in 48 games with 40 starts…scored 40 goals with 27 assists for 67 career points…collected 72 ground balls and caused 33 turnovers with 141 draw controls…two-time Big 12 Midfielder of the Week in 2025…led the Big 12 in ground balls per game and fifth in draw controls per game in 2025…recorded two hat tricks against Eastern Michigan and Cincinnati in 2025…led the Aztecs in draw controls (54), ground balls (37), and caused turnovers (15) in 2025…San Diego State Scholar-Athlete in all four seasons…pursuing a master’s degree in marketing management communication…played basketball and soccer in high school…named 2021 US Lacrosse All-American…recieved 2021 The Varsity M Club Award…multi-Freedom South division first team honoree…all-conference honors in both basketball and soccer…recipient of the 2021 Morris County Athletic Directors Scholar-Athlete Award…has two dogs and enjoys being outdoors…parents are Kim and Andy Christos…mother played lacrosse at William & Mary…father played lacrosse and soccer at Hobart…sister to Andy Jr. Christos, who played basketball at Penn State, Mae Christos, and Georgia Christos, currently committed to play soccer at Providence. She is also cousins with Phoebe Christos, who plays lacrosse at Villanova, and John Gerard, who played soccer at Colgate.

Superia Clark | Defender | 5-5 | Wyoming, Del. | Dover High School/Syracus

Played first three seasons at Syracuse…appeared in 46 games with 34 starts…collected 28 ground balls and caused 17 turnovers…scored one goal and won eight draw controls…started every game in the Syracuse defense her freshman season…pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology…two-time USA Lacrosse All-American…two-time All-State First Team honoree…ranked No. 2 in the state of Delaware by Delaware Online…recorded 73 goals and 32 assists as a senior in high school…became high school’s first-ever All-American…HS team captain for two seasons…tied for the team lead in goals and assists as a senior…member of the National Honor Society…played field hockey in high school…can solve a Rubik’s cube…her mother is Tiffany Smith…stepfather is Foster Trader…father is Craig Clark…her aunt, Tyresa Smith, played basketball at Delaware and was drafted 18th overall by the Phoenix Mercury in the 2007 WNBA Draft, playing for four seasons in the league.

Jordan Conversano | Defender | 5-9 | Huntington, N.Y. | Harborfields High School/Johns Hopkin

Played first four seasons at Johns Hopkins…made five appearances, forcing one ground ball……graduated from Johns Hopkins University…named to Academic All-Big Ten Team in three consecutive seasons (2023, 2024, 2025)…pursuing a master’s degree of social work…competed in field hockey and indoor track and field in high school…named All-Suffolk County Team in high school…member of National Honor Society…raised ducks as pets with her sister…enjoys skiing…parents are Robin and Christopher Conversano…mother played field hockey and lacrosse at Hofstra…sister to Matthew, who played lacrosse at Western Connecticut, and Mackenzie Conversano, who will play lacrosse at Florida State.

Reilly Hunter | Defender | 5-9 | Toronto, Canada | Birchmount Park Collegiate/San Diego Stat

Played first four seasons at San Diego State…appeared in 42 games with 32 starts…collected 35 ground balls and caused 22 turnovers with 20 draw controls…recorded two goals and two assists…team captain at SDSU in 2024/25…named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honoree in 2025…graduated from San Diego State with cum laude honors…named to the IWLCA Academic Honor Roll in 2023-24…four-time Dean’s List recipient and San Diego State Scholar-Athlete…pursuing a master’s degree in public interest media & communication…won Canadian lacrosse national championship with Team Ontario in 2019…played ice hockey and track & field in high school…became the Toronto City Champion in 300m hurdles in 2018…named varsity track MVP in high school…was introduced to lacrosse by playing box lacrosse…all of three of her brothers wore #44 in their playing days…parents are Mary Ormsby and Paul Hunter…mother played volleyball at Ohio State and was inducted into Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame…father played lacrosse at Siena…sister to Rob, Sam, who played ice hockey at Queens, and Will Hunter.

Meg Kenny | Midfielder | 5-6 | Aquebogue, N.Y. | St. Anthony’s High School/Maryland

Played first season at Maryland…appeared in nine games…scored two goals…pursing her bachelor’s degree in elementary education…two-time USA Lacrosse All-American in 2023 and 2024…selected to the 2023 National Team Development Program (NTDP) National Combine…Brogden Cup winner with the 2023 USA U18 team…IL Women five-star recruit out of high school…No. 29 recruit in the Class of 2024…selected to the Team USA U16 squad…two-time Under Armour 150 in 2021 and 2022…MVP of 2019 Trilogy camp…outstanding player at Long Island 99 showcase…2022 Juniors Open…HLA School Girls Finalist at the US National Tournament…2022 Workhorse Award St. Anthony’s High School…first team All-Long Island…three-time CHSAA All League recipient 2022-2024…St. Anthony’s High School honor roll all four years…competed in cross country and track…traveled an hour to school everyday…parents are John and Kiersten Kenny…sister to Lauren, played lacrosse at Stony Brook, and Johnathan Kenny.

Katie McLean | Defender | 5-9 | Tewksbury, N.J. | Voorhees High School/Colorado

Played first four seasons at Colorado…appeared in 37 games with 16 starts…collected 26 ground balls and caused 24 turonvers…scored one goal and won 15 draw controls…two-time Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll honoree in 2023, 2024…named to the Colorado dean’s list twice in 2022, 2025…named to the Colorado Athletic Director’s Honor Roll in all four seasons…named first team all-county and first-team All-Skyland Conference in high school in 2021…named to the second team All-Group in 2021…2021 Lehigh Lacrosse Player of the Year…2021 Hunterdon Warren Scholar-Athlete of the Year…played field hockey in high school…2021 New Jersey Sectional champion in field hockey…enjoys skiing, golfing, and visits the humane society to play with older dogs…played against the Dutch national lacrosse team in Amsterdam…parents are Sheila and Bill McLean…father played linebacker at Pittsburgh…sister to Megan Voetsch, who played golf at Penn State…her uncle, Joe McLean, played basketball at Arizona.

Marleigh Sanders | Attacker | 5-9 | Milton, Ga. | Milton High School/Notre Dame

Played first four seasons at Notre Dame…appeared in 11 games…scored a goal with four assists…participated in the ACC Women’s Lacrosse Student Athlete Advisory Group…named to the 2023 and 2024 All-ACC Academic team…Monogram Jacket recipient in 2023…graduated from Notre Dame college of business with a bachelor’s degree in management consulting…pursuing a master’s degree in business administration…No.29 Ranked Inside Lacrosse Recruit Class of 2021…three-time GHSA State Champion…three-time Under Armour All American…2020 Under Armour All American MVP…two-time GHSA 1st Team All State…played in the Israeli National Team 2018 World Games…Under Armour All-American Watchlists 2021…can drive a manual transmission vehicle…parents are Eric and Aimee Sanders…father played basketball, golf, and lacrosse at American International…sister to Lily and Dean Sanders, who plays lacrosse at Bucknell.

Erin Schaefer | Defender | 5-4 | Sayville, N.Y. | Sayville High School/Stanford

Played first four seasons at Stanford…appeared in 28 games…collected 14 ground balls and caused seven turnovers…two-time Pac-12 Champion…three-consecutive conference academic honor rolls from 2023-2025…graduated with a bachelor’s degree in science, technology, and society…three-time Under Armour All-American…2018 Nike Elite 120…played club for Long Island Yellow Jackets…played soccer in high school…enjoys watching sci-fi movies, painting, and collaging…parents are Tina and Tom Schaefer…mother played soccer at SUNY Oneonta…sister to Maddy, who played lacrosse at LIU, and twin brother Tyler Schaefer.

Reagan Terrell | Defender | 5-10 | Cary, N.C. | Panther Creek High School/Davidson

Played first four seasons at Davidson…made 31 appearances with 22 starts…recorded 19 ground balls, caused 19 turnovers, recorded six turnovers with two draw controls in three seasons of play…appeared in 10 games with five starts in 2024…caused four turnovers and collected two ground balls…earned the team’s Most Improved Player award in 2024…started in all 17 games in 2025…collected 17 ground balls, caused 15 turnovers, and two draw controls…recorded five multi-ground ball games, three multi-ground ball games in the last four games of the season…achieved career-highs in ground balls and caused turnovers against Winthrop in 2025…graduated from Davidson College with magna cum laude honors…named to 2025 A-10 All-Academic Team…named to the A-10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll in all four seasons…pursuing a master’s degree in sport management…competed in track and field in high school…enjoys playing pickleball, grandfather coaches the sport…parents are Matt and Katherine Terrell…sister to Kaylee Terrell Sandelin.

Catrina Tobin | Goalie | 5-9 | Sudbury, Mass. | Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School/UMass

Played first three seasons at UMass…appeared in 52 games with 37 starts in goal…recorded over 2400 minutes…made 302 saves with 30 career wins…captained the 2025 A-10 champions…2024 A-10 All-Championship team…2024 A-10 Second Team honoree…2023 A-10 All-Rookie team…two-time A-10 Rookie of the Week…graduated from UMass with a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies and a certificate in Criminal Justice…earned Atlantic 10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll in all four years…pursuing her master’s degree in criminal justice…senior captain of the 2018 Dual County League champions…Dual County League All-Star sophomore and junior seasons…Dual County League All-Star honorable mention freshmen year…selected for Shriners All Star game her junior seasons…two-time lacrosse captain at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School…ranked number one goalkeeper in the Dual County League…held a 55% save percentage…earned athlete of the year at her high school…EMGCLA All-Star 1st Team…Metrowest All-Star…recognized by the Boston Globe and Boston Herald as All-Scholastic… number one ranked player in the Dual County League as a sophomore…earned Dual County League All-Star…guided her team to three Dual County League Lacrosse Championships in 2018, 2019 and 2021…played ice hockey in high school…has two dogs, Brody and Sully…parents are Sean and Deirdre Tobin…sister to Ryan and Fiona Tobin.

Julia Ward | Goalie | 5-7 | Forest Hill, Md. | The John Carroll School/Maryland

Played first season at Maryland…appeared in six games with over 55 minutes in goal…made six saves…made the dean’s list twice in one season at Maryland…pursuing her bachelor’s degree in accounting…appeared on 2023 USA Select U18 team…Baltimore First Team All-Metro…IAAM All Conference 2024…three-time Baltimore All America Champions 2021-2023…four-year varsity starter…515+ Career Saves…three-time First Team All County 2022-2024…SkyWalkers 2024 Blue…STX Athlete…first honors in all four years in high school…played field hockey in high school…2023 varsity team captain in field hockey…two-time Second Team All-Harford County in field hockey…parents are Brian and Angela Ward…father played lacrosse at Salisbury and claimed the program’s second D-III national championship in 1995…the Ward family has two sets of twins in the family…twin sister, Lydia, will play lacrosse at Florida State…sister to twin brothers, Giovanni and Brendan Ward.

Lydia Ward | Midfielder | 5-3 | Forest Hill, Md. | The John Carroll School/Maryland

Played first season at Maryland…appeared in 10 games…made the dean’s list at Maryland…pursuing her bachelor’s degree in hospitality…appeared on the 2023 USA Select U18 and 2022 USA Select U16 teams…five-star recruit out of high school…#18 in Class of 2024: Inside Lacrosse…#30 in Freshman Class 2024: Inside Lacrosse…All America Senior Game 2024…2023 and 2024 IAAM All Conference team…four-year varsity starter…captain and leading scorer junior and senior year…100+ career goals, points and ground balls…two-time Baltimore All America Champions 2022 & 2023…USA U20 National Team Tryout…SkyWalkers 2024 Blue…two-time First Team All County 2023 & 2024…Brogden Cup Coach’s Award: USA U16…Vice President of Spanish National Society…National Honors Society member…STX Athlete…played soccer, basketball, and swimming in high school…parents are Brian and Angela Ward…father played lacrosse at Salisbury and claimed the program’s second D-III national championship in 1995…the Ward family has two sets of twins in the family…twin sister, Julia, will play lacrosse at Florida State…sister to twin brothers, Giovanni and Brendan Ward.

Faith Wooters | Midfielder | 5-8 | McKinney, Texas | McKinney Boyd High School/Syracus

Played first two seasons at Syracuse…appeared in seven games…two-time NCAA Semifinalist…2024 ACC Regular Season Champion…Syracuse Dean’s List in Fall 2024…two-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree in 2023 and 2024…pursuing her bachelor’s degree in management information systems…2021 Texas state champion in high school…Adrenaline All American…recorded 300+ points in high school…competed in track and field in high school…has two dogs and loves to wakeboard…parents are Rebecca and Scott Wooters…father played football at Maryland…sister to Nicolaas and Georgia Wooters.