The Women's College World Series brings some unique traditions into the spotlight, and Florida has one of the most heartwarming ones in sports.
The Gators often wear sunflowers in their hair to honor Heather Braswell, 17, an honorary member of the team who died of brain cancer in 2014. Their gesture is meant to show love and support for children and families who battle pediatric cancer.
Since Braswell's death, Florida has grown its sunflower tradition so that she's never forgotten. Each year, a pediatric cancer patient is made an honorary member of the team, and one home game is designated as the "Yellow Game," with players going all out wearing yellow accents and sunflowers to raise awareness for the cause.
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The Gators have brought their sunflowers to the 2025 Women's College World Series as they look to win their first national title since going back-to-back in 2014 and 2015.
Here's a look at Florida's sunflower tradition
MORE: Who is in the WCWS? Teams, bracket for 2025 NCAA softball tournament
Why does Florida softball wear sunflowers?
The Gators wear sunflowers in their hair to honor Heather Braswell, 17, an honorary member of the Florida softball team who died of brain cancer in 2014.
Each year in Braswell's memory, a pediatric cancer patient joins the softball team as an honorary member. One Gators home game is designated as the "Yellow Game," representing the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation's work to fund research for and eliminate childhood cancer.
Y = Yellow | There's a reason why we wear 🌻🌻 in our hair on Saturdays and why once a year we wear Yellow.
— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) August 29, 2019
Pediatric cancer is a terrible disease, but the💛&💪shown by those affected helps remind us that there are things in this🌎bigger than🥎 #GatorsABCs pic.twitter.com/OJpTR3cLgC
Who is Heather Braswell?
The Gators' sunflower tradition started to take root in 2009 when former Florida pitcher Francesca Enea, who is now one of the Gators' assistant coaches, met Heather Braswell through an Adopt-A-Child program. Enea and her teammates supported Heather through her cancer treatments, and she gave the same kind of dedication to the Gators in return.
Inspired by Braswell following her death, Florida went on to win its first softball national title in 2014. Heather's mother, Terri, was in Oklahoma City to watch the Gators defeat Alabama in the championship-clinching game.
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