NCAA Gymnastics Semifinals Recap: Upsets and Finalists Set for Showdown
In a thrilling display of athleticism and competition, eight teams competed in the NCAA gymnastics semifinals held at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 17, 2025. The stakes were high as teams aimed to secure a spot in the finals on April 19, where the remaining four contenders will battle for the national title.
Finalists Determined
Following a series of intense performances, the semifinalists have now been narrowed down to four teams. The finalists for the championship include perennial powerhouse Oklahoma, historic competitors Utah and UCLA, alongside the underdog Missouri, which has secured its first appearance in the finals.
Viewing Information for the Championship
Fans can follow the concluding championship event this Saturday:
- Team Final: 4 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN+
Shocking Upset of Defending Champions
The defending champion, LSU, faced an unexpected twist, finishing below expectations in the semifinals. The team, which held the No. 1 ranking during the regular season and clinched the SEC title last month, was narrowly defeated by UCLA by just .2125 points. LSU ended the competition in third place in its session, trailing behind Utah, which was the session leader.
UCLA head coach Janelle McDonald praised the fierce competition, stating, “Tonight’s competition was absolutely everything you can hope for in a national championship. It was so neck and neck and just such a fight for every single event and every single routine.”
Top Performances and Achievements
Oklahoma’s Strong Comeback
The Oklahoma Sooners entered the event with the pressure of past disappointments yet rose to the occasion. Senior Jordan Bowers earned the all-around title with a score of 39.7125, narrowly outperforming her competition. This performance marked a powerful comeback from last year’s semifinals when they faced a surprising defeat.
Oklahoma concluded its session with a dominant performance on vault, achieving a session-best score of 49.2750, led by Bowers, who scored 9.8875—a significant turnaround from previous years.
Missouri’s Historic Achievement
Missouri saw a landmark moment in its gymnastics program by advancing to the finals for the first time. Helen Hu played a pivotal role with a near-perfect 9.9875 on beam, clinching the second-place finish that propelled her team past Florida. She expressed her focus on performing her routine without considering the stakes, saying, “I just go in, this is my beam routine… I really had no idea what the situation was.”
The Night Session: A Tight Race
The evening session was marked by a close contest, with Utah and UCLA edging past LSU and Michigan State. Tension filled the arena as all teams performed in the final rotation, underscored by Utah’s stellar performance on bars and UCLA’s success on beam. Both teams celebrated their advancement upon seeing their scores solidify their positions in the championship.
Individual Titles Awarded
In addition to the team competitions, several gymnasts stood out individually:
- All-Around Champion: Jordan Bowers (Oklahoma) – 39.7125
- Beam Champion: Helen Hu (Missouri) – 9.9875
- Vault Champion: Kailin Chio (LSU) – 9.975
- Uneven Bars Champion: Jordan Chiles (UCLA) – 9.975
- Floor Champion: Brooklyn Moors (UCLA) – 9.9625
The 2025 NCAA gymnastics championships promise a compelling showdown with storied programs vying for glory, all heightened by the emergence of unexpected challengers. With top talent on display, fans can anticipate an exhilarating finale this weekend.