Following yesterday’s release of regionals assignments for the 2026 postseason, analysis of the field began, and team and individual paths to nationals were laid out. Some journeys appear easier than others, giving some a leg up thanks to a successful regional season or seeding luck. Let’s take a look at what you can expect heading into championship season.
Winner: Georgia
Landing in the Tempe regional is a relatively good draw for the GymDogs, who are looking for their first appearance as a team since 2019. Georgia has been on an impressive run all season, not scoring below 197 since early January, despite the injury to Lily Smith, which was initially thought to be season-ending. It has to compete with seeded teams Florida, Michigan State, and California to do so, but if its pattern of consistency continues to hold, Georgia stands a solid chance of qualifying as a team.
Loser: Alabama
The Crimson Tide started out strong, but some regular-season-ending struggles on beam in particular saw it drop to the No. 5 seed and place it in what some may call the “death regional” in Corvallis. If all goes according to seedings, it will potentially face perennial rivals UCLA and Utah, the latter of which hasn’t missed a national championship in 50 years, for a team spot in Fort Worth. If Alabama doesn’t clean up the mistakes that have plagued it in recent weeks, it could be on upset watch.
Winner: Maggie Slife, Air Force
Being assigned to the Baton Rouge regional is arguably the best path for two-time regional qualifier Slife to make her first appearance at nationals. Assuming LSU and Stanford qualify as the top two seeds, Slife is currently the highest-ranked all-arounder at the regional behind LSU’s Kailin Chio and Stanford’s Anna Roberts. Even if Roberts were to qualify as an all-arounder, Slife has a chance to qualify as an individual on bars, as she is in the top 10 in the nation on that event. This would be the Falcons’ best chance to send an individual to nationals, and Slife has a legitimate shot with this draw.
Loser: Floor Specialists in Baton Rouge
Apologies in advance to anyone who wants to qualify as an individual on floor from Baton Rouge because this regional is stacked with talent. Kaliya Lincoln and Kailin Chio are among the top in the country on this event but are in a position to advance with their team. Behind them are names like Clemson’s Brie Clark, Roberts, Tar Heel Sydney Seabrooks, and Michigan’s Carly Bauman, all of whom are ranked in the top 15 nationally on floor and only one of whom can advance as a floor specialist. We’re already sat waiting to see how this showdown plays out.
Winner: Sage Kellerman
One of the nation’s top vaulters for several seasons running, Spartan senior Kellerman’s booming front handspring pike half has an excellent shot at another nationals appearance with or without her team as the top-ranked vaulter in the Tempe Regional. The 2025 first-team All-American on the event and No. 5 overall this season has nationals experience and knows what it takes to get there.
Loser: The Selection Show Skipping Saltness
Qualifying as an individual to regionals on bars is Illini Lyden Saltness, but watching the broadcast of the selection show, one wouldn’t know that. For reasons unexplained, the Saltness qualification was excluded from the show, depriving a gymnast of the joy of hearing her name called or shown as a postseason qualifier. The NCAA regional selection show has become synonymous with avoidable mistakes, and this year continued the trend.
READ THIS NEXT: 2026 Regionals Draw, Individual Qualifiers Announcement
Article by Brandis Heffner and Savanna Wellman
