Oklahoma Is a Dynasty
Yet again, reigning national champion Oklahoma is the team to beat this season. That truism has held for the last decade, as K.J. Kindler’s masterful direction of the program has led to six national titles, four runner-up trophies, and two third-place finishes. In fact, Kindler’s Sooners haven’t placed lower than tenth, finishing off the podium just four times since she took the helm in 2006. Known for recruiting both star elites—like Maggie Nichols and Jordan Bowers—and shaping under-the-radar recruits—like Chayse Capps—into college stand-outs, Oklahoma is known for its unwavering precision and attention to detail. The Sooners will be gunning for a third consecutive NCAA title in 2024. While it’s true that there are no guarantees in college gymnastics, it’s generally safe to bet on the Sooners.
The Utes Might Be in the Midst of An Identity Crisis
Utah is the only gymnastics program with appearances in every national championship since the NCAA began sponsoring the sport in 1982. The Utes won the first five national titles and have a total of nine to their name. Though they haven’t won since 1995, they’ve landed on the podium 11 times since then (including third-place finishes at the last three championships). Program originator Greg Marsden retired in 2015, ceding leadership of the legendary team to his wife Megan Marsden and Tom Farden. Flash forward to the present: Farden is out amid allegations of abuse and cultivating a toxic team culture, leaving interim head coach Carly Dockendorf to right the ship. This begs the question: What does Utah gymnastics look like without the Marsdens or after allegations of abuse from their hand-picked successor at the helm?
Michigan Looks to Return to the Top
Michigan spent years finishing near the top of the field and landing just short of the big prize. In 2021, though, the Wolverines became just the seventh team ever to win a national title. No new program had joined that short list since Oklahoma tied Florida in 2014, and no other Big Ten team has won the title (though seven-time champion UCLA will join the conference in 2024). Despite being a fixture at the top of the rankings throughout the 2022 and 2023 regular seasons, the Wolverines haven’t made it back to the Final Four since their win. This may be the team’s best chance at a second title for the next few years, as they’ll be losing seven strong upperclassmen—including fifth–year standouts Sierra Brooks and Gabby Wilson—after the 2024 season.
Florida Hasn’t Hoisted the Trophy Since 2015
After back-to-back-to-back NCAA team titles starting with the program’s first in 2013, it looked like the Gators were well on their way to dynasty status. But, after then-head coach Rhonda Faehn surprisingly left for a position with USA Gymnastics after the 2015 season, the Gators’ title drought began. Current head coach Jenny Rowland has had plenty of success at the helm of Florida—winning five SEC titles, finishing as NCAA runner-up on several occasions—but hasn’t been able to lead it back to a championship despite several star-studded and top-ranked recruiting classes. Much of that has been due to the dominance of other programs (see: Oklahoma is a Dynasty), but there has been more than enough talent in Gainesville to win a title. That sentiment will be the same this season.
The Tigers Are Hunting for Their First Championship
LSU has an infamous empty spot in its trophy case, literally. The Tigers keep a hole where they hope to one day put their national championship trophy. For now, LSU has always-the-bridesmaid-never-the-bride syndrome, despite being home to some of the best gymnastics in the country. Having finished second in the nation three times since 2016 and being a feature late in the postseason, the Tigers are hungry for that first big win and they are not afraid to say it. Olivia Dunne thrust LSU into the national consciousness, right where it belongs.
Former Dynasties Alabama and Georgia Aim to Recapture Faded Glory
These SEC rivals were the center of the NCAA universe for decades under legendary head coaches Sarah Patterson and Suzanne Yoculan, winning a combined 16 national titles from 1987 until Patterson’s retirement in 2012 (Yoculan retired in 2009 after securing the GymDogs’ fifth consecutive championship trophy). Both programs have struggled to recapture the magic in the subsequent decade, and both are now being led by venerated alumnae Courtney Kupets Carter (Georgia) and Ashley Priess Johnston (Alabama): Kupets Carter has been at the helm since 2018, but has yet to deliver on her promise that “Georgia gymnastics will win championships again.” Johnston took the reins last year and guided the Crimson Tide to a respectable tenth–place finish, down three spots from the 2022 season. Results aside, both head coaches have been on a hot streak recruiting-wise, meaning we could soon witness the reignition of this once-dominant rivalry.
UCLA Is Rebuilding
The Bruins are about to enter year two under head coach Janelle McDonald. The storied program, known for big floor routines and big personalities, has won seven national titles, most recently in 2018. Since the program’s legendary—and controversial—head coach Valorie Kondos Field retired in 2019, the program has struggled to find its footing. She was succeeded by Chris Waller, who led the team to consecutive twelfth–place finishes before ultimately resigning amid allegations of mishandling incidents of racism within the team. McDonald, whose resume includes a long and successful assistant stint at California, had a strong debut season culminating in a fifth–place finish at the 2023 championships. However, she’ll be without nine-time All–American Jordan Chiles (United States) and Ana Padurariu (Canada), who are deferring the 2023–2024 NCAA season to train for the upcoming Paris Olympics. How will the Bruins fare without superstar Chiles shoring up lineups? While the immediate future is slightly murky, McDonald just signed the No. 3 recruiting class in the country for the 2026 season.
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Article by: Emily Minehart, Claire Billman, and Brandis Heffner
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