A Florida Gators basketball player faced a life-changing moment when she discovered she was pregnant just minutes before a critical game. Alexia Gassett, a junior forward from Reynoldsburg, Ohio, found out she was expecting right before facing the South Carolina Gamecocks on February 13, 2024. Despite the shock, she took the court, playing 18 minutes off the bench with the same grit that has defined her college career.
In a now-viral video shared on April 16, 2024, Gassett revealed the moment she saw three positive pregnancy tests. Her hands shook as she processed the news, all while trying to stay quiet so as not to wake a sleeping teammate nearby.
Posted on TikTok and Instagram, the clip’s caption read, “Baby G coming October 2025,” sparking an outpouring of love from fans and players alike. The raw emotion in the video, which you can watch on X, has resonated widely, showing the personal side of an athlete at a crossroads.
Gassett’s husband, Brandon Gassett, a former high school wide receiver, was floored by the news. He commented on the post,
“OMG OMG OMG WHEN WERE YOU GOING TO TELL ME?????”
followed by heart emojis, revealing he learned about the pregnancy online like everyone else. The couple, who married earlier in her college career, now look forward to welcoming their child. Teammates also showered her with support. Me’arah O’Neal, daughter of NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, left heart emojis, while former teammate Morgana Jones wrote,
“CONGRATS LEXXXX.”
Even players from other teams, like Serah Williams, sent congratulations, highlighting the tight bonds in women’s basketball.
Two days before sharing the video, on April 14, 2024, Gassett announced she was stepping away from basketball to focus on her family. Her final game she played on March 31, 2024, against the Minnesota Golden Gophers, where she scored 4 points, grabbed 3 rebounds, dished 2 assists, and recorded 1 steal in 15 minutes during a 66-52 loss.
Gassett’s story goes beyond the court, shedding light on the choices female athletes often face. By choosing motherhood over basketball, she’s embracing a new chapter with the same courage she brought to every game.
