NCAA Women's Gymnastics Postseason Tournament Begins Wednesday

Forbes

02-04-2025

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - APRIL 20: Louisiana State University receive their National Championship trophy ... More after the 2024 NCAA Division I Women's Gymnastics Championships at Dickies Arena on April 20, 2024 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Aric Becker/)
The journey to the 2025 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships begins on April 2. Thirty-six programs have successfully advanced to the postseason tournament, with the first four teams competing Wednesday. Over the next five days, the regional field will be whittled down from 36 to eight teams.
The top eight teams will advance to the 2025 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships, set for April 17-19, where they'll vie for coveted positions to compete in the season finale: the 'Four on the Floor.'
Determined by their finishes at this week's competitions, top individual gymnasts from non-qualifying teams will also earn berths. Four all-around gymnasts and 16 event specialists will advance to compete in Texas.
In a historic development, the defending National Champion LSU Tigers claimed the No. 1 overall seed after their impressive win at the 2025 SEC Championships. This marks the first time the Tigers have entered the postseason as the sport's top dog. It's also the first time since 2014 that the Oklahoma Sooners aren't the top seed.
While the Tigers, Sooners, and top SEC teams battled in late March, the No. 16 Arkansas Razorbacks sat at home. Due to a formatting change spurred by conference realignment, the Razorbacks were controversially excluded from competing at the 2025 SEC Championships. Coach Jordyn Wieber's hungry squad will likely have a chip on its shoulder this postseason.
Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles and the No. 5 UCLA Bruins also enter the week with significant momentum. The Bruins impressed at March's Big Ten Championships, claiming the title and posting the highest conference score of the weekend (higher than No. 1 LSU's).
Jade Carey, Chiles' fellow Olympic Champion, has had nothing short of a historic career – but an NCAA title still eludes her. Carey looks to lead her Oregon State Beavers to the NCAA Championships for the program's first appearance since 2019.
This week's Regional Championships span the country, with four programs hosting the qualifiers: the University of Alabama, Penn State University, the University of Utah, and the University of Washington.
The time for falls and slip-ups is no more. Stuck landings are non-negotiable. The top two teams from each regional semifinal will move on to the regional final. From there, the top two teams in the regional final advance to nationals. If you finish third, your season is over.
This may not be 'March Madness,' but trust me – there will be madness. In 2022, LSU struggled in the second round, falling to underdogs Missouri and Iowa to end their title hopes. Just last season, perennial powerhouse Oklahoma famously collapsed in the NCAA Semifinal round, ending their historic season without the ultimate crown.
Gymnastics is one of the most unforgiving and unpredictable sports. Anything's possible when you mix a uniquely challenging sport with postseason pressure.
Determined on the first-ever NCAA Gymnastics Selection Show broadcast on ESPNU, the seedings and competition schedule are as follows:
Play-in: Thursday, April 3 at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN+
Clemson vs. Rutgers
Semifinal I: Friday, April 4 at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN+
No. 6 Cal
No. 11 Alabama
North Carolina
Iowa
Semifinal II: Friday, April 4 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+
No. 3 Florida
No. 14 Oregon State
NC State
(Play-in Winner)
Play-in: Wednesday, April 2 at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN+
Maryland vs. West Virginia
Semifinal I: Thursday, April 3 at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+
No. 8 Michigan State
No. 9 Kentucky
Ohio State
Penn State
Semifinal II: Thursday, April 3 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+
No. 1 LSU
No. 16 Arkansas
Michigan
(Play-in Winner)
Play-in: Wednesday, April 2 at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN+
BYU vs. Utah State
Semifinal I: Thursday, April 3 at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN+
No. 5 UCLA
No. 12 Minnesota
Southern Utah
Boise State
Semifinal II: Thursday, April 3 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN+
No. 4 Utah
No. 13 Stanford
Denver
(Play-in Winner)
Play-in: Thursday, April 3 at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN+
Illinois vs. UC Davis
Semifinal I: Friday, April 4 at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN+
No. 7 Missouri
No. 10 Georgia
Arizona
Arizona State
Semifinal II: Friday, April 4 at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+
No. 2 Oklahoma
No. 15 Auburn
Nebraska
(Play-in Winner)