NCAA Women's Gymnastics Resurgence: Notable Aspects to Monitor in 2025
Following the remarkable 2024 college season and the Paris Olympic Games, 2025 promises another year filled with excitement for NCAA Women's Gymnastics. Kicking off the first weekend of the new year, fans are eager for high-ranking matchups and the emergence of an impressive freshman class.
In December 2024, the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) published its 2025 preseason rankings: 1. Oklahoma, 2. LSU, 3. Florida, 4. California, 5. Utah. While all of these teams are undoubtedly contenders in the postseason, the major storylines extend beyond initial predictions.
Keep an eye on the following key themes as the NCAA season takes flight:
LSU Tigers' Title Defense Attempt
In April 2024, LSU Gymnastics clinched their first NCAA title in impressive fashion, joining a small group of only eight programs to achieve this feat. Led by NCAA and SEC All-Around Champion, Haleigh Bryant, the Tigers aim to secure the repeat win in 2025. Their 2024 champion team was filled with talent, and the addition of a sensationally gifted freshman class, alongside returning top contributors, promises a formidable 2025 roster.
Even though they had just won the highest title, LSU's senior team members made use of their fifth-year eligibility (awarded due to pandemic-related interruptions). Among these returning athletes are standouts Bryant and Sierra Ballard, important contributors on beam and floor, as well as team leaders. Aleah Finnegan, the 2024 Olympian, 2-time NCAA Champion, and the athlete who clinched the 2024 title for them, is also set to return. The Tigers have a wealth of senior talent; however, their freshman class may prove even more potent.
Notable freshman recruits include 2024 U.S. Olympic alternate Kaliya Lincoln and coveted five-star recruit, Kailin Chio. Although Lincoln is recovering from an injury in the early stages of the season, anticipate her significant contributions to vault and floor within the 2023 Pan American Championships.
Though new to the scene, Chio shines like a veteran at only 18 years old. A versatile all-around gymnast, she’s a strong contender for the top spot on many events, and her future at LSU could potentially vault her to legendary status. In summary, the 2025 LSU Tigers could contain all the elements of a championship-winning team. Their main drawback? Injuries.
According to reports from local media, Haleigh Bryant is expected to miss several meets due to a UCL strain. Konnor McClain, another outstanding athlete and the defending SEC beam champion, will also be returning from an Achilles tear suffered in May. Will LSU repeat as champions? The opportunity is there. They’ll need to preserve their health en route to the postseason, with the Sooners and their dedicated head coach, K.J. Kindler, serving as their toughest competition.
Sooners' Quest for Redemption, Top-Ranked Teams on the Attack
The Oklahoma Sooners have boasted an unstoppable reputation in the NCAA Women's Gymnastics sector for years, racking up titles in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2023. After an impressive regular season in 2024, fans and pundits predicted another resounding championship victory. However, after a catastrophic vault rotation, the Sooners missed advancing to the finals, and their run of dominance crumbled. LSU ultimately claimed the title.
But one thing remains certain; they’ll be back. The Sooners have a history of bouncing back from NCAA title frustrations. In 2018, they finished second to UCLA, only to win the title in 2019. After a heartbreaking second place finish in 2021, a 0.0875 score discrepancy separating them from the Michigan Wolverines, the Sooners claimed victory in 2022. Led by a legendary coach and an outstanding freshman class, the Sooners could seek redemption again in 2025.
However, they're not the only teams aiming to return to the top. Both the Florida Gators and Utah Red Rocks also have viable chances of breaking their title droughts. The Gators haven’t won a title since 2015, but the addition of accomplished UCLA transfer, Selena Harris, and the return of World Champion, Leanne Wong, could bolster their title quest. Utah has consistently been at the forefront of championship contenders, finishing in third place over four consecutive years, and 2025 may be the year they finally reach the top.
The Red Rocks boast an impressive roster that includes U.S. and British Olympians, along with the No. 1 overall recruit, Avery Neff. Similar to Kailin Chio for LSU, Neff has the potential to dominate multiple events and build a powerful legacy in college gymnastics. Could she assist Utah in earning their first NCAA title since 1995? It’s highly probable.
Lastly, don’t turn your back on the Golden Bears. While LSU stole the spotlight in 2024, the Cal Bears also made program history by finishing second to the Tigers. With the introduction of British elite and European champion Ondine Achampong and a talented group of senior athletes, the Golden Bears could challenge for the 2025 title.
The forthcoming season will showcase some of the world's top athletes joining the fray. Following their triumphant Olympic gold win in Paris, U.S. gymnasts Jordan Chiles from UCLA and Jade Carey from Oregon State have declared their intentions to return to college gymnastics for the 2025 season. Their Olympic teammates, substitutes Leanne Wong from Florida, Joscelyn Roberson from Arkansas, and Kaliya Lincoln from LSU, are also expected to contribute significantly to their respective teams in 2025.
However, it's not just the US's golden girls gracing the college stage. Aleah Finnegan from LSU, Emma Malabuyo from UCLA, and Levi Jung Ruivivar from Stanford are fresh off their remarkable Olympic debuts for the Philippines. The NCAA competition will see a strong representation from Canada as well, with Olympians Aurélie Tran from Iowa, Cassie Lee from Iowa, and Ava Stewart from Minnesota joining Big Ten programs.
Conference Realignment Mayhem
The college sports world was thrown into a tumult during the gymnastics offseason, with realignment causing major impacts for certain teams and conferences. Among the changes, the top-ranked Oklahoma Sooners, known for their dominance in the Big 12, switched to the SEC. The SEC, widely regarded as the strongest conference in NCAA Gymnastics, might weather this significant shift with the Sooners' arrival. The Sooners' departure leaves a substantial void in the Big 12, but the realignment introduces a familiar Pac-12 force to the Big 12, with preseason No. 5 Utah taking over from the Sooners.
Meanwhile, Michigan State and 2021 NCAA Champion Michigan face off against the 7-time NCAA Champion UCLA Bruins and University of Washington Huskies in the Big Ten Conference, which is expected to become even more competitive in 2025. And with NC State claiming the first-ever ACC Championship, the ACC will truly take flight in 2025 as National Runner-Up California becomes the preseason favorite to win the 2025 ACC title, followed by a strong Stanford squad.
Judging Controversy Persists
Each year, complaints regarding the judging system in gymnastics grow louder. Although judging a subjective sport isn't simple, the increasingly frequent perfect 10.0s and "mathematically impossible" scores without repercussions have only fueled calls for judging reform.
Last May, the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) introduced the Collegiate Judging Issue (CJI), a judging evaluation system aimed at creating a level playing field of scores across the country. The association is focused on improving judging's integrity, this time by evaluating the judges' skills instead of just the gymnasts.
As coaches and athletes eagerly await the start of the season, the gymnastics community hopes for a new era of fair and equitable judging, but only time will tell come January 3rd, 2025.
In addition to the anticipated title defense by LSU Gymnastics, Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles from UCLA and Jade Carey from Oregon State have announced their return to college gymnastics for the 2025 season. The judgement controversy in gymnastics persists, with the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association introducing the Collegiate Judging Issue (CJI) to evaluate judge skills and create a fairer playing field.
Meanwhile, conference realignment has significant impacts on NCAA Gymnastics. The Oklahoma Sooners, known for their dominance in the Big 12, have switched to the SEC, potentially strengthening the conference. The ACC, with National Runner-Up California as the preseason favorite, is expected to gain recognition as a powerful conference in 2025.
Amidst all these developments, the 2025 LSU Tigers, led by returning stars Haleigh Bryant and Aleah Finnegan, along with new recruits Kaliya Lincoln and Kailin Chio, may have the components to win another championship. The presence of Olympic athletes such as Carey, Chiles, and Lee in DCAA teams only adds to the anticipation of another thrilling season in women's gymnastics.
