Shaq's Daughter Leads Florida Women's Basketball to Victory

Me'Arah O'Neal posts double-double in crucial SEC win over Auburn

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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Me'Arah O'Neal, the daughter of NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, led the Florida women's basketball team to a 61-53 victory over Auburn. O'Neal recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds, helping the Gators snap a three-game losing streak.

Why it matters

As the daughter of a basketball icon, O'Neal's performance highlights the next generation of talent emerging in women's college basketball. The win was crucial for Florida to stay competitive in SEC play and build momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.

The details

O'Neal went 5-of-9 from the field and 2-of-2 from 3-point range, with five of her 12 rebounds coming on the offensive end. The Gators outrebounded Auburn 38-34 and outscored the Tigers 15-12 in second-chance points. Florida trailed 26-25 at halftime but outscored Auburn 22-12 in the third quarter to take control of the game.

  • The game was played on February 6, 2026.
  • Florida's next game is on Sunday, February 8, 2026 against Arkansas.

The players

Me'Arah O'Neal

The daughter of NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal, who led Florida with a double-double performance.

Kelly Rae-Finley

The head coach of the Florida women's basketball team.

Laila Reynolds

A Florida player who scored a team-high 17 points.

Liv McGill

A Florida guard who had 13 points and 5 assists.

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What they’re saying

“Getting on the boards on both ends, really got me going. The 3-ball, I love to shoot the 3, that gets me excited so that got me going, too.”

— Me'Arah O'Neal (Yahoo Sports)

“We've been working really hard on that. When you crash the offensive glass you've got to go to pursue the ball, you've got to go hard to the basketball. I thought we probably could have finished a couple of more of those but our effort was there and our mentality was there.”

— Kelly Rae-Finley, Florida women's basketball coach (Yahoo Sports)

What’s next

Florida will look to build on this win when they host Arkansas on Sunday, February 8, 2026.

The takeaway

Me'Arah O'Neal's dominant performance showcases the rising talent in women's college basketball, as the next generation of stars emerges. Her double-double helped the Florida Gators secure a crucial SEC victory and stay competitive in conference play.