FORT WORTH, TEXAS – APRIL 20: Haleigh Bryant of the LSU Tigers celebrates after winning the national … [+]
After 2024 saw a historic college season and the Paris Olympic Games, another year of NCAA Women’s Gymnastics looms on the horizon. With the season starting the first weekend of 2025, fans anxiously await multiple top-25 matchups and the debut of a stellar freshman class.
In early December, the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) released its 2025 preseason poll: 1. Oklahoma, 2. LSU, 3. Florida 4. California, 5. Utah. Though all five teams are sure to contend in the postseason, the top storylines extend past preseason predictions.
Check out our key stories to follow as another NCAA season takes flight:
LSU Tigers’ Title Defense
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – APRIL 20: Aleah Finnegan of Louisiana State University prepares for her beam … [+]
In April 2024, LSU Gymnastics claimed its first NCAA title in decisive fashion, joining a short list of just eight programs to earn the crown. Led by NCAA & SEC All-Around Champion Haleigh Bryant, the Tigers look to complete the repeat in 2025. While their championship team was stacked, the addition of a spectacular freshman class and return of multiple top contributors make for a stacked 2025 roster.
Despite winning the highest title, five seniors from LSU’s championship team elected to use their fifth-year of eligibility (awarded due to disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic). Among those returning are superstars Bryant and Sierra Ballard, a key contributor on beam and floor and an impactful team leader. The Tigers also return Aleah Finnegan, 2024 Olympian, 2-time NCAA Champion, and the athlete responsible for clinching their 2024 title. In terms of veteran ability, the Tigers are stacked. However, their freshman class may be even stronger.
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 16: Kailin Chio of the LSU Tigers competes at The Gymnastics 101 … [+]
The rookie class notably features Kaliya Lincoln, 2024 U.S. Olympic Alternate, and Kailin Chio, a coveted five-star recruit. While Lincoln is nursing an injury to open the season, expect the 2023 Pan American Champion to make a significant impact on vault and floor.
Though new to the collegiate scene, Chio looks like a veteran at just 18 years old. The stellar all-around gymnast is a title contender on nearly every event and could potentially reach legendary status at LSU as her career progresses. All in all, the 2025 LSU Tigers have all the pieces of a national title-winning team. Their main vice? Injuries.
In reporting released by local media, sources revealed that Haleigh Bryant will likely miss a few meets due to a UCL strain. Konnor McClain, another standout and the defending SEC Beam Champion, is also returning from an Achilles tear sustained in May. Could LSU repeat as National Champions? The potential is there. As they look to stay healthy on the road to the postseason, their biggest competitor is Coach K.J. Kindler’s Oklahoma Sooners.
Sooners Seek Revenge, Top Programs On The Prowl
FORT WORTH, TX – APRIL 18: Oklahoma Sooners gymnast Jordan Bowers competes in the floor routine … [+]
For years, the Oklahoma Sooners seemed untouchable. Kindler’s team has dominated NCAA Women’s Gymnastics for years, claiming national titles in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2023. After multiple record-setting performances in the 2024 regular season, fans and experts predicted another decisive postseason win. The Sooners seemed like a train that couldn’t – wouldn’t – be stopped. However, when the Sooners failed to advance to the finals after a disastrous vault rotation, their long-maintained dominance came crashing down. Instead of hoisting the trophy, the Sooners watched from the stands as LSU inevitably claimed the title.
But one thing’s for sure – they’ll be back. Oklahoma has a proven recorded of rebounding from national title disappointment. In 2018, they finished a heartbreaking second to UCLA…and then won in 2019. In 2021, the Michigan Wolverines edged the Sooners by .0875, only for Oklahoma to roar back for the 2022 title. Led by one of the most successful coaches in the sport and a star-studded freshman class, the Sooners could find redemption once again in 2025.
However, Oklahoma isn’t the only team vying for a return to the top. Both the Florida Gators and Utah Red Rocks have legitimate shots at ending their title droughts. The Gators haven’t won the title since 2015, but the addition of all-star UCLA transfer Selena Harris and return of World Champion Leanne Wong could pack a huge punch towards their title bid. The Red Rocks have been in the hunt for years, finishing 3rd for four consecutive championships, but 2025 could be their year.
On top of their stacked roster including U.S. and British Olympians, Utah adds the No. 1 overall recruit Avery Neff. Much like Chio for LSU, Neff has the ability to claim titles on multiple events and make a huge name for herself in college gymnastics. Could she help lead Utah to their first NCAA title since 1995? It’s very possible.
Don’t forget about the Golden Bears, though. While LSU stole the show in 2024, the Cal Bears also made program history with their second place finish behind the Tigers. With the addition of British elite and European Champion Ondine Achampong and a stellar class of seniors, the Golden Bears could easily contend for the 2025 title.
Olympic Gymnasts Take NCAA
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 30: (L-R) Simone Biles, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Sunisa Lee and Hezly Rivera … [+]
The upcoming season will also see the addition of some of the world’s best athletes. Shortly after winning Olympic gold with in Paris, U.S. Olympians Jordan Chiles (UCLA) and Jade Carey (Oregon State) both confirmed their intent to return to college gymnastics for the 2025 season. Their Olympic teammates, alternates Leanne Wong (Florida), Joscelyn Roberson (Arkansas), and Kaliya Lincoln (LSU) will also be key contributors to their respective teams in 2025.
However, America’s golden girls aren’t the only Olympians taking to the collegiate stage. Aleah Finnegan (LSU), Emma Malabuyo (UCLA), Levi Jung Ruivivar (Stanford) are fresh off historic Olympic debuts for the Philippines. Canada will also be well represented in NCAA competition, with Olympians Aurélie Tran (Iowa), Cassie Lee (Iowa), and Ava Stewart (Minnesota) all joining Big Ten programs. There’s nothing quite like Olympic-level competition, and each of these athletes should bring unique experience and poise to the collegiate stage.
Conference Realignment Chaos
FORT WORTH, TX – APRIL 18: Cal Golden Bear gymnasts celebrate after reaching the semifinals during … [+]
College sports entered the whirlwind of conference realignment during the gymnastics offseason. For certain teams and conferences, the realignment will have a massive impact. At the top of the docket, the preseason No.1 Oklahoma Sooners enter the Southeastern Conference (SEC) after years spent dominating the Big 12. Widely regarded as the strongest conference in NCAA Gymnastics, the SEC could weather a staggering shakeup with the Sooners’ addition. Though the Sooners’ departure leaves a significant hole in the Big 12, the realignment brings a familiar Pac-12 powerhouse to the Big 12. Preseason No. 5 Utah will now take the reigns from the Sooners, looking to hold off a formidable Denver team in a Big 12 battle.
On the other side of the country, the already-tight Big Ten Conference should be even more competitive in 2025. The 7-time NCAA Champion UCLA Bruins and University of Washington Huskies will join the conference, facilitating a face-off with rising power Michigan State and 2021 NCAA Champion Michigan.
Lastly, after completing its inaugural year sponsoring women’s gymnastics, the ACC will truly take flight in 2025. While NC State claimed the first-ever ACC Championship, National Runner-Up California emerges as the preseason favorite to win the 2025 ACC title, followed by a strong Stanford squad.
Judging Controversy Continues
BATON ROUGE, LA – MARCH 10: A judge announces a perfect score for LSU Tigers gymnast Haleigh Bryant … [+]
Year after year, the complaints continue to grow louder from the gymnastics community. Judging an inherently subjective sport is far from simple, but with perfect 10.0s becoming more and more common and “mathematically impossible” scores flashing without repercussions, the calls for judging reform continue to mount.
In the first sign of tangible change, the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) announced the Collegiate Judging Issue (CJI) in May 2024, a judging evaluation system established “to create a level playing field of scores across the country.” The Association states their intent to improve the integrity of judging – this time around, the judges’ skills will be evaluated, not just the gymnasts.
As coaches and athletes anxiously await the start of the season, the gymnastics community cautiously hopes for a new, more equitable era of judging. We’ll only know for sure when the first scores flash on January 3rd, 2025.
