On the field, Kaitlyn Davies and Theresa Bragg are two of the most reliable forces on No. 4 Florida lacrosse, forming one of the most formidable pairings in the nation. Off the field, the two juniors are even closer, rarely spending a moment away from one another.
“There’s those people everyone knows as a duo, and that’s how we are,” Davies said. “If I’m by myself without her, everyone’s asking me where she is… it’s like we do everything together.”
That’s noticeable every game, as the midfielder and defender have developed into cornerstones of Florida’s roster. Davies, hailing from Wayne, New Jersey, has excelled all-around for the Gators this season. She’s scored 35 goals while adding 25 draw controls and 23 ground balls, ranking top 4 on the team in each category.
Meanwhile, Bragg, from Severna Park, Maryland, continues to dominate as Florida’s top defender. Trailing the opponent’s best attacker nearly every game, she leads the Gators with 23 caused turnovers. That shouldn’t come as a surprise. The junior has been a stalwart at Florida, starting all 60 games she’s played.
Thanks to their performances this season, Davies and Bragg were both named top 25 nominees for the Tewaaraton Award, which honors the best player in collegiate lacrosse.
“When you look at the Tewaaraton, it’s a combination of everything. You have to be a really good lacrosse player, but you have to have the leadership,” Florida head coach Amanda O’Leary said. “Kaitlyn and Theresa fit that bill perfectly.”
While their stats and accolades speak for themselves, it’s their relationship — rooted in trust and communication — that elevates them. Sometimes, it even includes some tough love.
“They hold each other accountable,” O’Leary said. “And they will call each other out if they’re not doing what the other thinks they should be doing. That’s how you make each other better.”
Both players agree.
They regularly discuss how they can improve and how to help the other do the same. When Davies was held in check against Stetson on April 15, she was frustrated, and Bragg was not only there to support her teammate, but help her improve. The duo spent extra time together practicing their shooting, and Davies followed with four goals against Cincinnati on April 19.
“We’ll collaborate and talk about what we need to do better,” Davies said. “I look to her for the defensive side of things, and she’ll tell me what she sees on the offensive side.”
That back-and-forth started early. Both committed to Florida during their junior year of high school and instantly hit it off when they met. They stayed in touch throughout their remaining year of high school, and when it was time to choose their roommates for their freshman year in Gainesville, it was a no-doubt decision for the duo.
That closeness — a relationship built on a mutual interest — has now translated into Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
“Spending so much time together off the field really helps with our play on the field,” Bragg said. “We know where each other are going to be, or what we're thinking.”
During the pair’s freshman season in 2023, Bragg quickly became an anchor on Florida’s defense, while Davies contributed as a key role player. That changed last year, when Florida, in need of defensive depth, moved Davies to the backline.
While she says it was a difficult adjustment, the now-defender’s relationship with Bragg was key to her success in that transition.
“She’s someone I was inspired by as I shifted gears to defense, and I just looked up to her a lot,” Davies said. “I would go to her for help when I needed something on the defensive side of the field.”
The two friends complement each other perfectly. Davies is bubbly and outgoing, while Bragg is more calculated but still loves to have a good time. The pair does almost everything together: sit on team buses and planes next to one another, consistently go out for meals and attend the same classes.
They’re also there for each other when things get tough.
“My favorite thing about her is she’s always just joking and happy,” Bragg said. “It’s really easy to laugh when we’re together. Sometimes, when things are a little bit stressful, we can go to each other and vent and then laugh about it.”
Davies agrees.
“We have that good balance between seriousness and locking in, and then having fun,” she said. “We know what to lock in on and how to get our team on the same level as us.”
That ability to flip the switch from fun to focus has helped Florida through another dominant regular season. Last year, the Gators reached the NCAA Final Four for the first time since 2012. This year, the mission is clear: finish the job and win the program’s first-ever national championship.
“Making it to the Final Four was a really big goal,” Bragg said. “This year, we’re aiming to do the same thing… and to end our season on a win.”
Contact Max Bernstein at mbernstein@alligator.org. Follow him on X @maxbernstein23.
Max is in his fourth semester at The Alligator, and he is the Spring 2025 lacrosse reporter and a second-year journalism sports & media major. He is a big South Florida sports fan, and likes to go to concerts with his friends and family.
