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How NCAA women's gymnastics works

August 4, 2023
About 3,500 (!!!) women across 83 Division I, II, and III gymnastics programs will compete this winter for both individual glory and the single cross-division team natty.
CollegeGymnastics
How NCAA women's gymnastics worksHow NCAA women's gymnastics works
SOURCE: ANDY HANCOCK/NCAA PHOTOS VIA GETTY IMAGES

The GIST: About 3,500 (!!!) women across 83 Division I, II, and III gymnastics programs will compete this winter for both individual glory and the single cross-division team natty. Flip yeah.

How it works: Gymnasts compete before a panel of judges in four events — vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise — at meets throughout the three-month regular season. The top 36 teams based on scores, plus 76 individuals not on a qualifying team (12 all-arounders and 16 specialists on each event), are selected for postseason competition.

  • Postseason regionals begin in late March or early April to determine the eight teams, four all-arounders, and 16 event specialists who will advance to mid-April’s national championships.

The powerhouses: Only seven schools have ever won the ’ship, with Georgia, Utah, and UCLA flipping to 10, nine, and seven trophies, respectively. But dynasties come in waves and, except for UCLA’s 2018 title, this trio hasn’t hoisted hardware in over a decade.

  • Besides Florida’s three-peat run from 2013–15 and Michigan’s 2021 turn, the current queens are reigning back-to-back champs Oklahoma, whose six titles were all snagged in the last nine seasons. Boomer Sooner, indeed.
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