Welcome to the NCAA gymnastics postseason! After months of dual meets, unstreamed podium meets, and rankings shuffles, the top 36 teams are officially set for regional competition—the final stop before nationals. Over five days, gymnasts and teams will fight through three rounds in four different locations, all vying for one of the coveted eight team spots at nationals—and a handful of individual berths.
In these previews, we’ll break down each regional in detail; which teams have the clearest path, where upsets could happen, and which individuals could sneak their way into nationals. Let’s dive into the Tempe regional.
The action kicks off on Wednesday with round one, featuring No. 32 Arizona State vs. No. 33 Arizona. Round two follows on Thursday with two sessions: No. 6 Georgia, No. 11 Michigan State, No. 24 BYU, and No. 28 Southern Utah in the afternoon, and No. 3 Florida, No. 14 California, No. 20 Penn State, plus the round one winner in the evening. The top two teams from each session advance to the regional final on Saturday, where the top two finishers punch their ticket to nationals.
In addition to teams, individual gymnasts will compete on Thursday for spots at nationals. After combining the results from both round two sessions, and removing athletes from the two qualifying teams, the top all-arounder and top scorer on each event will advance.
Want all the nitty-gritty details, including tie-breakers, format breakdown, and even how judges are assigned? Check out our NCAA postseason resource guide.
Regional Storylines to Watch
- The play-in round features an in-state rivalry between Arizona and Arizona State.
- Georgia will be without Lily Smith, but she could return if Georgia is able to return to nationals for the first time since 2019.
- Tonya Paulsson is the fifth-ranked gymnast in the country on bars and will be looking to make her first nationals appearance.
- While the all-around matchup does not feature a top five all-around gymnast, the battle does have six gymnasts in the top 20 competing for the all-around spot.
Round 1
April 1 at 5 p.m. ET | ESPN+
Prediction: 54.7% Arizona, 45.3% Arizona State
By the Numbers
| Team | NQS | Average | High Score | Starting Event |
| No. 32 Arizona State | 195.590 | 195.569 | 196.500 | Vault |
| No. 33 Arizona | 195.583 | 195.585 | 196.800 | Bars |
The Path to Forward
Arizona State
Season Spotlight
Arizona State has been a great team at home this season, and would you look at that, Arizona State is at home for this matchup. There have been rocky moments earlier in the season on bars and beam, but bars has become a strength in the last few meets. After losing to Arizona just a few weeks ago at Arizona, the Sun Devils will be motivated to defend home turf.
What It’ll Take
Arizona State is coming off of its worst vault showing of the year at Big 12s and one of its worst beam showings of the year. Kimberly Smith has had a fantastic season competing in the all-around, but she announced that she will miss the remainder of the season due to injury. Without Smith, it will be difficult for Arizona State to put up the number it likely needs to beat Arizona.
Arizona
Season Spotlight
After surpassing 196 in three of four meets prior to conference championships, Arizona posted its second-lowest score of the season at Big 12s. Before that competition, Arizona was the higher-ranked team between Arizona State and Arizona, so this one really could go either way.
What It’ll Take
Luckily, the downturn the Wildcats had at Big 12s can be pointed to one event in particular: bars. Arizona fell a part a bit on the event as the highest score was a 9.8 and there were only two scores above 9.7. A hit bars rotation will put the Wildcats in position to take the spot in round two.
Round 2, Session 1
April 2 at 4 p.m. ET | ESPN+
Prediction: 95.9% Georgia, 95.0% Michigan State, 7.1% BYU, 2.0% Southern Utah
By the Numbers
| Team | NQS | Average | High Score | Starting Event | Individuals with Team |
| No. 28 Southern Utah | 195.818 | 195.912 | 196.925 | Floor | Manama Fofana, Penn (FX) Jordan Barrow, Penn (VT) |
| No. 6 Georgia | 197.391 | 197.404 | 198.075 | Vault | |
| No. 11 Michigan State | 197.103 | 197.027 | 197.700 | Bars | |
| No. 24 BYU | 196.228 | 196.225 | 197.225 | Beam | Deana Sheremeta, George Washington (FX) Lola Montevago, George Washington (UB) |
Note: Individuals from both round one teams are included in the individual draw to account for one team being eliminated after Wednesday’s competition. The spots from the individuals on the advancing team will not be filled.
The Path to Forward
Georgia
Season Spotlight
Georgia is experiencing a resurgence in the second year under Cécile Canqueteau-Landi and Ryan Roberts. Georgia has been strong all season and broke 198 just a few weeks ago at Elevate the Stage. The Bulldogs are primed to make it back to nationals for the first time since 2019.
What It’ll Take
Georgia has been one of the top vault and floor teams all season. To move on to the next round, while those events do not need to be hit to the highest potential, putting up strong scores on the leg events will be key.
Michigan State
Season Spotlight
Coming off a season where the Spartans made it to nationals, Michigan State had a bit of a rocky start, primarily on bars. Bars stabilized pretty early on with beam being the event that has remained inconsistent. Both events were strong for the Spartans at Big 10s, and Michigan State will be looking to carry that momentum.
What It’ll Take
Michigan State is one of the best vault teams in the country, and is great on leg events like Georgia is. Putting up big numbers on those events as well as having a solid beam rotation will be key for the Spartans advancing.
BYU
Season Spotlight
BYU has been fairly consistent this year thanks to a group of primarily three-eventers in Scarlett Sonnenberg, Deb Silva, Ava Jorgensen, and Kylie Eaquinto. BYU’s one inconsistency this season has come on beam, but just two weeks ago, the Cougars posted a 49.550 on the event.
What It’ll Take
The 196.175 posted at Big 12s likely won’t be enough to move on to the next round. A better bars and beam rotation like the one’s BYU had against Clemson the week prior will be needed to have a chance.
Southern Utah
Season Spotlight
Southern Utah has been a consistent team for most of the season, but in the last month, beam has become a rollercoaster. There have been counted falls almost every week in March with different gymnasts falling. Southern Utah is coming into regionals off its worst meet of the season and will look to bounce back.
What It’ll Take
Southern Utah will not be favored to move on, but the Thunderbirds will not have a chance at moving on without reverting to beam rotations of earlier in the season. Southern Utah ends the meet on beam, so that will be interesting to watch if the meet is close at that point.
Individuals Who Could Steal a Spot
All-Around
If Michigan State does not qualify to nationals, the all-rounder coming out of this regional is likely a Spartan. Nikki Smith and Makayla Tucker are ranked ninth and 12th respectively in the all-around going into the postseason. If either of those two slip up slightly then Niya Randolph is very capable of taking the top spot.
Vault
Sage Kellerman is the highest-ranked vaulter in this regional and will be favored to move on if Michigan State does not qualify. If Georgia misses, the trio of Nyla Aquino, CaMarah Williams, and Ady Wahl will be competing against each other for that spot.
Bars
The favorite for this spot is in the later session, but there are still contenders here. Depending on who makes it, Sage Kellerman for Michigan State will be a contender along with the back half of the Georgia bars lineup. Autumn Reingold has been almost perfect this season.
Beam
If Georgia misses, Kelise Woolford will be one of the favorites to take this spot. Brynlee Andersen-Broekman has an average of 9.875 and season high of 9.975 and will be one of the top contenders here.
Floor
This session features two of the top ten floor workers this season in CaMarah Williams and Nikki Smith. The rest of the Georgia lineup will be competing for this spot if the Bulldogs miss out. There are a couple of Southern Utah gymnasts that could also be in the mix in Niya Randolph and Berlin Hall.
Dark Horses
On bars, Lola Montevago has not scored as high this season, but she has a career high of a 9.975 and could make some noise. BYU has some floor workers who could contend, including Scarlett Sonnenberg and Kylie Eaquinto.
Round 2, Session 2
April 2 at 10 p.m. ET | ESPN+
Prediction: 99.8% Florida, 74.4% California, 25.1% Penn State, 4.2% Arizona/2.3% Arizona State
By the Numbers
| Team | NQS | Average | High Score | Starting Event | Individuals with Team |
| No. 20 Penn State | 196.470 | 196.496 | 197.250 | Floor | Safia El Mammann, Arizona State (VT)/Jessa Janicke, Arizona (VT) Kayla Lee, Arizona State/Tirzah Wise, Arizona (BB) Emma Strom, Arizona (FX) |
| No. 3 Florida | 197.753 | 197.714 | 198.575 | Vault | Sophie Hernandez, Texas Woman’s (FX) |
| No. 14 California | 196.716 | 196.665 | 197.225 | Bars | Kyleigh Ghanbari, Texas Woman’s (FX) Sophia Isbell, Texas Woman’s (VT) |
| No. 32 Arizona State OR No. 33 Arizona | 195.590 | 195.569 | 196.500 | Beam | Abigayle Martin, Arizona (AA) |
| 195.583 | 195.585 | 196.800 | Kimberly Smith, Arizona State (AA) |
Note: Individuals from both round one teams are included in the individual draw to account for one team being eliminated after Wednesday’s competition. The spots from the individuals on the advancing team will not be filled.
The Path to Nationals
Florida
Season Spotlight
Florida has had a rockier season than in years past. There were several meets with counting falls on bars or beam that only got more consistent in the last few weeks of the season. Florida has shown that it might be peaking at the right time after winning SECs.
What It’ll Take
If Florida can compete it’s normal that has developed in the last month of the season there should be no issue moving on to Saturday. Florida will be relying on its bars rotation to put up a strong showing to make it back to nationals.
California
Season Spotlight
California is a program that was expected to fall in the rankings this season due to a lot of roster turnover and a coaching change. The roster turnover showed up in the week to week inconsistencies. One this that did not change, is that this is still a great bars team.
What It’ll Take
California will need to lean on bars and floor to move on to Saturday. Getting to nationals from there will be tougher as the Golden Bears do not have the scoring potential of the likely qualifiers, so it will take an above-average rotation on both vault and beam.
Penn State
Season Spotlight
After an injury-riddled 2025, 2026 was much healthier for the Nittany Lions and it showed up in the scores. Penn State recorded two of the highest team scores in program history this season and will look to challenge California on Thursday to keep its season alive.
What It’ll Take
Like the other teams in this session, bars is a strong event for the Nittany Lions. Capitalizing on that event along with a strong beam rotation will be key for challenging its higher ranked opponents.
Individuals Who Could Steal a Spot
All-Around
Florida is favored for nationals, but Selena Harris-Miranda will be favored if they miss. Assuming Florida advances Annalise Newman-Achee and Tonya Paulsson are both ranked in the top fifteen nationally and will have a good shot.
Vault
This session does not have the vaulters to contend unless Florida fails to qualify. In that case Selena Harris-Miranda will be in contention if she doesn’t get the all-around spot, and Danie Ferris has the consistent landings to contend.
Bars
Unlike vault, this is a very strong bars session. Anyone in Florida’s lineup could make it if the Gators fail to qualify. Tonya Paulsson is tied for the fifth-ranked gymnast on bars this season and will be the favorite. Paulsson will be challenged by the Penn State duo of Dani Latronica and Ava Cash.
Beam
Selena Harris-Miranda has been the second-best beamer this season, but will likely qualify elsewhere. Her teammates Kayla DiCello and Skye Blakely will be in this race if Florida misses. Dani Latronica is also a top 25 gymnast on the event and will challenge.
Floor
Skye Blakely will be the one to watch if Florida doesn’t qualify as a team. Emma Strom has been one of the top floor workers all season and has a great shot to go to nationals if she is able to compete through her injury. Tonya Paulsson also has the scoring potential to make it.
Dark Horses
Ava Piedrahita has a great Omelianchik on vault that, if stuck, could claim a spot on vault. She is also a contender on bars with a season high of 9.95. Abigayle Martin has been consistent on beam this season with a season high of 9.925, which would contend.
Round Three
April 4 at 8 p.m. ET | ESPN+
The rotation starting order for the final day of competition will be decided on April 3 in a video conference, where teams will pick starting events.
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Article by Alyssa Van Auker
