'Sweet Sixteen' Kicks Off Saturday For NCAA Women's Gymnastics

Forbes

05-04-2025

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 09: Chae Campbell of the UCLA Bruins competes on floor exercise ... More during a meet against the Stanford Cardinal at Pauley Pavilion on March 09, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by)
NCAA Women's Gymnastics' 'Sweet Sixteen' is set. After three days of tense competition at the Regional Championships, the postseason field narrowed from 36 to 16. Over the next two days of competition, 16 will shrink further to an 'Elite Eight.'
Top seeds LSU, Oklahoma, Florida, and Utah all advanced to their regional final, with No. 3 Florida posting the highest score of the Semifinal round, a massive 198.225. LSU and Oklahoma also went 198+, while Utah tied with No. 18 Denver after a season's-best effort from the underdog Pioneers.
Two top-ranked teams saw their seasons cut short after subpar performances. No. 10 Georgia blossomed in 2025, showing substantial improvements in the first season since hiring Simone Biles' and Jordan Chiles' elite coach, Cecile Canqueteau-Landi.
However, the Bulldogs collapsed on Friday, recording two falls on beam and committing multiple uncharacteristic errors. While Georgia struggled, No. 21 Arizona was calm and steady, delivering hit routines to knock out the Bulldogs by just .075, a razor-thin margin. With their upset win, the Arizona Wildcats are guaranteed their best finish in over 18 years.
Just south at the Salt Lake City Regional, another upset was brewing. Like Georgia, the No. 13 Stanford Cardinal thrived in 2025, claiming the program's first ACC Championship over No. 6 California in March. The Cardinal finished a surprising fifth at the NCAA Championships just the year prior.
However, the Cardinal also fell victim to the beam in Salt Lake City. Stanford recorded two falls, posting their lowest total of 2025 on the event. While the Cardinal struggled, Denver excelled, posting their highest team total of the season to tie with No. 4 Utah, a national title favorite.
Olympic Champion Jade Carey was lights-out on Friday, leading her Oregon State Beavers to the Regional Final. Carey was near-perfect throughout the meet, winning every event and notching a perfect ten on floor. With her stellar results, Carey clinched a guaranteed berth to nationals as an individual competitor. Though Carey boasts five NCAA medals, she has yet to clinch an NCAA title.
CORVALLIS, OREGON - MARCH 21: Jade Carey of the Oregon State Beavers competes on the floor exercise ... More during a gymnastics meet against the Fisk Bulldogs at Gill Coliseum on March 21, 2025 in Corvallis, Oregon. (Photo by)
Fresh off their 2025 Big Ten Championship, Jordan Chiles and the UCLA Bruins cruised to another decisive win. After their victorious semifinal, the Bruins will face a rematch with former Pac-12 foe Utah at Saturday's Regional Final.
The Regional Finals, which begin Saturday and run through Sunday, will determine the eight teams qualifying for the NCAA National Championships in Fort Worth, Texas, later this month. The top two teams from each Regional Final qualify for nationals.
The Pennsylvania Regional stands out as a potential nail-biter. Aside from sporting the number-one team in the nation, LSU, the remaining three teams are neck and neck. Michigan State, Kentucky, and Arkansas scored within one-tenth of each other in the semifinal round, and all three teams are out for regional revenge.
Despite spectacular regular-season efforts, Michigan State and Kentucky missed the Elite Eight in 2024, ending their seasons in the Regional Finals. This time, the hungry squads look to leave no doubt in the judges' minds.
For Arkansas, emotions are high. After a controversial scheduling change left the No. 16 Razorbacks out of the 2025 SEC Championships, the team vowed to return with a vengeance. On Thursday, Jordyn Wieber's team looked ready for anything, delivering season highs on both vault and bars. However, heartbreak struck for the Razorbacks in the final routine of the night.
All-American and vocal leader Frankie Price incurred a lower leg injury on her opening tumbling pass, bringing the meet to a halt. Despite their successful result, the meet ended in tears for the Razorbacks. Heading into today's competition, the Razorbacks vow to 'do it for Frankie.'
Pennsylvania Regional Final: Saturday, April 5 at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN+
No. 1 LSU
No. 8 Michigan State
No. 9 Kentucky
No. 16 Arkansas
Utah Regional Final: Saturday, April 5 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+
No. 4 Utah
No. 5 UCLA
No. 10 Minnesota
No. 18 Denver
Alabama Regional Final: Sunday, April 6 at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+
No. 3 Florida
No. 6 California
No. 12 Alabama
No. 14 Oregon State
Washington Regional Final: Sunday, April 6 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+
No. 2 Oklahoma
No. 7 Missouri
No. 15 Auburn
No. 21 Arizona