Aileen Hnatiuk

Tampa

Sports Reporter at WFLA-TV (Tampa, FL)

Sports Reporter @wfla | Olympic Reporter @paris2024

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Articles

Awkward? Rays host Yankees at Steinbrenner Field for first time ever

1 week ago | wfla.com | Aileen Hnatiuk

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — This is the first time the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees, the division rivals, will face each other this season. It’s also the first time the Yankees are visitors at Steinbrenner Field. A statue of George M. Steinbrenner stands outside George M. Steinbrenner Field during a spring training baseball game between the Minnesota Twins and the New York Yankees, Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Tampa, Fla.
Lightning will face Panthers in first round of Stanley Cup Playoffs

1 week ago | wfla.com | Aileen Hnatiuk

TAMPA, FLA. (WFLA) — The Tampa Bay Lightning will face the Florida Panthers in the first round of Stanley Cup Playoffs. A tale as old as time. We’ve seen this movie before. The Lightning and Panthers are facing each other in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs once again. The Lightning beat the Panthers in six games in the first round in 2021. However, the Bolts swept them in the second round in 2022. Florida beat Tampa Bay in five games in the first round last year.
Bucs want to address area of need in 2025 NFL Draft

2 weeks ago | wfla.com | Aileen Hnatiuk

TAMPA, FLA. (WFLA) — The obvious need for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is on defense. Specifically, an edge rusher to compliment the new addition of former Jets LB/DE Haason Reddick, who was just signed in free agency. “We do need help on defense, and it would be fun to see us improve there, and I think we will without really making any huge changes. We’re going to be better, obviously. Getting some new players will make it a lot better,” said Bucs General Manager Jason Licht.
Bucs want to address area of need in 2025 NFL Draft

2 weeks ago | sports.yahoo.com | Aileen Hnatiuk

TAMPA, FLA. (WFLA) — The obvious need for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is on defense. Specifically, an edge rusher to compliment the new addition of former Jets LB/DE Haason Reddick, who was just signed in free agency. “We do need help on defense, and it would be fun to see us improve there, and I think we will without really making any huge changes. We’re going to be better, obviously. Getting some new players will make it a lot better,” said Bucs General Manager Jason Licht.
USF Women’s Basketball going to NCAA Tournament

1 month ago | wfla.com | Aileen Hnatiuk

TAMPA, FLA. — No. 3 South Florida (23-10) defeated No. 9 Rice (17-17), 69-62, in the 2025 American Women’s Basketball Championship final on Wednesday evening, March 12, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. With the win over Rice, the USF Bulls earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. “This is a special group,” USF head coach Jose Fernandez said. “They had to win three games in three days.
USF Women’s Basketball going to NCAA Tournament

1 month ago | sports.yahoo.com | Aileen Hnatiuk

TAMPA, FLA. — No. 3 South Florida (23-10) defeated No. 9 Rice (17-17), 69-62, in the 2025 American Women’s Basketball Championship final on Wednesday evening, March 12, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. With the win over Rice, the USF Bulls earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Bucs agree to deals with Chris Godwin, Haason Reddick “This is a special group,” USF head coach Jose Fernandez said. “They had to win three games in three days.
Yanni Gourde back where he belongs, in Tampa Bay

1 month ago | wfla.com | Aileen Hnatiuk

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Tampa Bay Lightning organization believes that adding two elite forwards Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand will be the push they need to make a deep playoff run. “It means the world is the winning culture here. There is a standard and you have to respect that to pay for the crescent front,” Gourde said. Gourde won the Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2020 and 2021. He’s back where he belongs. Head Coach Jon Cooper believes Gourde is everything that being a bolt represents.
USF Men’s Tennis starts season off undefeated

Jan 23, 2025 | wfla.com | Aileen Hnatiuk

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The USF Bulls improved to 3-0 with victory at Stetson. The USF Men’s Tennis team earned a 5-2 win in their first road match of the spring season on Monday, Jan. 20. One player who is set to make an impact for USF is Hugo Car. Car transferred from Eastern Florida State College and started training with the Bulls in August 2024. “It’s kind of new for me. The first two months were really new,” Car said.
Mitchell High School alum playing for Tampa Bay Rays

Jan 22, 2025 | wfla.com | Aileen Hnatiuk

OLDSMAR, FLA. (WFLA) — The Tampa Bay Rays are gearing up for the season. Mitchell High School alum and Tampa Bay native, Trevor Harrison, is headed to Rays camp in just a few weeks. Harrison grew up going to Rays games, and he said it’s a dream come true that he is playing for his hometown team. “It’s the most surreal feeling going to the Trop, and going to the games,” he said. “Just being a huge Evan Longoria fan wanting to wear that jersey one day.
FSU alumni Lawrence Toafili prepares for NFL combine

Jan 20, 2025 | wfla.com | Aileen Hnatiuk

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — There are no days off for FSU running back Lawrence Toafili as he trains for the NFL Draft. The Pinellas Park High School alumni said the highs and lows he experienced as a Nole are what shaped him into the person and player he is today. “A lot of lessons and a lot of blessings,” said Toafili. From winning the ACC championship against Louisville in 2023, to a forgettable 2-10 season in 2024, Toafili has experienced a lot in his collegiate career.