Florida softball’s season ended on May 30 in Oklahoma City.
The Gators advanced to the Women’s College World Series for the second season in a row, but unfortunately, they went oh-for in OKC with losses to Texas and Tennessee.
Now, the program turns its attention to the transfer portal. It’s an asset coach Tim Walton has utilized better than any in the country perhaps.
In 2021, he added Skylar Wallace from Alabama. Following the 2023 season, Korbe Otis (Louisville) and Jocelyn Erickson (Oklahoma) arrived. Both Wallace and Erickson were SEC and National Players of the Year, and Otis was a first-team All-American and winner of the Elite 90 award.
Last season, the Gators added consistent starters Kenleigh Cahalan (Alabama) and Rylee Holtorf (Washington).
Walton and Co. will have to work the portal hard this season once again as Florida looks to fill four starting spots – CF Kendra Falby, LF Otis, SS Holtorf and 1B Reagan Walsh. In addition, UF needs to add pitching depth to replace Kara Hammock.
At the same time, the Gators must make sure players don’t bolt for other programs.
Here’s the latest in the transfer portal for Florida:
Florida softball players who entered transfer portal
OF Kylie Shaw enters the transfer portal: June 4
Like Bellaire, Shaw enrolled a year early as well. An Estero native, she graduated Evangelical Christian School — where she won an FHSAA state championship in 2024 — a semester early. She only started one game, but she played in 35 as one of Florida’s primary pinch runners, along with Brooke Barnard. She stole three bases and scored 14 runs, including one in the team’s final game at the WCWS vs. Tennessee. Along with Bellaire, her departure leaves just one member of UF’s Class of 2025 — California native Kalie Matsuno — who did not join the team a year early.
C Makenna Bellaire enters the transfer portal: June 4
Bellaire arrived in Florida a year early due to the Gators need for a catcher to backup Jocelyn Erickson. A Lutz native, she graduated Land O’ Lakes High School a semester early and joined the team in January. She played in 13 games and made five early season starts at catcher. She only played in two games past March 2 and tallied just three hits on the season.
2B Mia Williams enters the transfer portal: June 4
The biggest transfer portal departure for Florida softball so far, Williams had a breakout season in 2025. She hit 19 home runs and drove in 44 runs. Both of those ranked in the top five on the team as she started every game at second base. Williams, the daughter of Florida basketball legend and NBA champion Jason Williams, was in line to be a key contributor to Florida’s 2026 squad. Now, Walton must replace three of four infielders from 2025.
INF Alyssa Hovermale enters the transfer portal: June 2
Hovermale entered the portal after two seasons at Florida. A Norco, California, native, Hovermale arrived in Gainesville as part of the loaded 2024 recruiting class. She played in 16 games and started two as a freshman. Her playing time decreased this season, and she played in just two games – vs. Michigan and Providence. She collected one hit in two at-bats.
INF Layla Lamar enters the transfer portal: June 2
Lamar, a native of Cary, North Carolina, came to Florida with high expectations. She was ranked as the No. 4 recruit in the Class of 2024 according to Maxpreps. She also comes from an athletic family as the daughter of Marissa Young – a three-time All-American pitcher at Michigan – and James Lamar – a former football player at Michigan. Young is also the head softball coach at Duke. Lamar played in sixteen games and started three. She drove in four RBIs on four hits and four runs.
Players the Gators got in the portal
INF Kendall Glover commits to Florida: June 22
One of the best mid-major players in the country is Gainesville bound. Former Eastern Illinois infielder Kendall Glover announced her commitment to the Gators Sunday. The Mooresville, Indiana, native comes to Florida after being named Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year twice. She has one year of eligibility left after starting all 142 games at EIU. Glover led the team in batting average each of the first three seasons with a .387 career batting average, along with 117 runs, 95 RBI, 23 home runs, 44 doubles, four triples, 65 walks and 36 stolen bases.
C/INF Giulia Desiderio commits to Florida: June 16
Desiderio became the third player to transfer to Florida from inside the SEC this transfer cycle. Desiderio comes to Florida with one year of eligibility after having played three seasons at South Carolina. With the Gamecocks, Desiderio scattered 58 hits, 39 RBI and three home runs across 157 game appearances. Desiderio also threw out 13 runners from behind the plate in 2024, which ranked second in the SEC. Transferring to Florida brings Desiderio back to her home state as she played her prep career at River Ridge High School in Hudson.
INF Madison Walker commits to Florida: June 12
Walker became the second Gator to commit inside the SEC. The rising junior comes from Olathe, Kansas, originally and by way of Missouri. Like former Florida infielder Mia Williams, Walker experienced a sophomore jump in 2025. She hit 18 home runs this past season, which ranks third in program history. That mark came in fifth in the SEC behind Taylor Shumaker, Reese Atwood, Gabbie Garcia and Williams. She drove in 48 RBIs — a team-high — while hitting .244.
C/OF Ella Wesolowski commits to Florida: June 9
Wesolowski became the first commit to the Gators from the transfer portal, joining from Mississippi State. The rising junior played in 40 games and started 23 games at catcher, right field and designated player. She hit three home runs and drove on 15 runs on a .253 average. She ranked third among all Power 4 catches with three runners picked off.
Noah Ram covers Florida Gators athletics and Gainesville-area high school sports for The Gainesville Sun, GatorSports.com and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at nram@gannett.com. Follow him on X @Noah_ram1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida softball transfer portal tracker: Roster changes following the 2025 season
Reporting by Noah Ram and Ainslie Lee, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
