The GIST: Grab your leotard and get ready to giddy up because the NCAA gymnastics national championship semifinals hit the mat in Fort Worth, TX, starting tomorrow. The top two squads from each four-team semi will flip on to Saturday’s final meet (on network TV!). Your Thursday night plans? Stickin’ it on ESPN2.
The matchups: The 4:30 p.m. ET semi is The SEC Show — all four teams hail from the cutthroat Southeastern Conference. Powerhouses No. 2 Oklahoma, No. 3 Florida, and No. 11 Alabama are all back in the semis for the second straight year, while No. 7 Missouri advanced out of the regional final for the first time since 2022.
- As for the 9 p.m. ET semi, defending champ No. 1 LSU, led by reigning all-around champ Haleigh Bryant, is favored, but it might be closer than you think: The Tigers advanced out of the regional final with a 198.050, but No. 8 Michigan State was hot on their tail with a 198.000.
- No. 4 Utah is notably making their 49th (!!!) consecutive championship appearance, while the always impressive No. 5 UCLA features Team USA superstar Jordan Chiles, who’s hungry for some uncontested hardware. These meets are anyone’s for the taking.
The individual qualifiers: Four all-arounders and 16 event specialists from non-qualifying schools will also compete as individuals alongside the eight teams mentioned above, hoping to advance for a shot at a solo national title in their event. Of these contenders, Chiles’ Olympic teammate Oregon State’s Jade Carey looks particularly dangerous in the all-around competition.
- And although Alabama upset No. 6 seed Cal in the regional final, two Golden Bears are serious individual title threats: Madelyn Williams logged a near-perfect score on bars during the last round on April 4th, and Mya Lauzon was similarly almost flawless on beam and floor. Time to bear down.