Washington will enter a transition period this year following the departure of successful head coach Jen Llewellyn and the university’s move into the Big Ten. The unexpected transfer of all-around star Skylar Killough-Wilhelm, who announced her fifth-year at Washington before Llewellyn left Seattle and then later transferred to Kentucky, will impact this team’s ceiling. The positive? A very talented sophomore class didn’t show its full potential in 2024, partially due to injury, and should bring a lot more to the table this year.
2024 Rewind
No. 23 overall | No. 8 at Pac-12s | No. 28 in regular season | Regional semi-finals
This was a successful season for Washington, capped with a great result at regionals. Overperforming there has become a habit for this team as of late. Finishing at the bottom at the final Pac-12 championship wasn’t such a great result, but it was a fine score in a competitive session.
Losses & Gains
| Returning | In |
| Fifth-Years Taylor Russon Seniors Deiah Moody Lana Navarro Emily Pires Juniors Emily Innes Cailtlin McWilliams Thu Nguyen Olivia Oppegard Emma Schrady Lilly Tubbs Sophomores Kira Bolden Chelsea Hallinan Kristin Lin Mary McDonough | Freshmen Lex Mouyenga Jessica Reith |
| Out | |
| Graduated Gabi Wickman Transferred Skylar Killough-Wilhelm (AA) McKenna Carnesi Retired Ashley Blum | |
| Injury Update | |
| Kira Bolden, who missed her freshman season due to injury, has been seen vaulting and tumbling in practice. Thu Nguyen has recently been spotted with her right arm in a sling. Deiah Moody has been present and in a leotard during practices but not in early intrasquad lineups. | |
Apparatus Deep Dive
Vault
2024 Event Ranking: No. 36 | NQS: 49.125 | Average: 49.019
| Event Overview: Vault is a historical weakness for the Huskies. Amplitude and landings aren’t the best, and upgrades tend to disappear over time. This lineup stands to improve slightly this year, with just Killough-Wilhelm’s Yurchenko full leaving and two potential 10.0 SV vaults added by sophomore injury returner Kira Bolden and freshman Lex Mouyenga. Senior Lana Navarro has a third 10.0 SV vault, though she doesn’t always compete it. | ||
| Locks: Emily Innes, Lana Navarro, Lilly Tubbs | ||
| Contenders: Kira Bolden, Kristin Lin, Mary McDonough, Emily Pires | ||
| Wildcards: Lex Mouyenga, Emma Schrady, Caitlin McWilliams |
Bars
2024 Event Ranking: No. 28 | NQS: 49.250 | Average: 49.004
| Event Overview: Bars was a consistent strength for the 2024 Huskies, scoring 49.000 or better every week except the first of the season. This is one of the more difficult events on which to replace Killough-Wilhelm, and the depth isn’t extensive, but this is freshman Jessica Reith’s best even. Plus, sophomore Mary McDonough is a strong prospect to break into the lineup. | ||
| Locks: Deiah Moody, Taylor Russon, Lilly Tubbs | ||
| Contenders: Kristin Lin, Mary McDonough, Olivia Oppegard, Jessica Reith | ||
| Wildcards: Caitlin McWilliams, Lex Mouyenga, Emma Schrady |
Beam
2024 Event Ranking: No. 17 | NQS: 49.340 | Average: 49.156
| Event Overview: Beam is always a strength for Washington. Don’t expect that to change. Five strong routines return from last year, but the rest of the roster has plenty to offer. Inconsistency can creep in during pressure situations, though. | ||
| Locks: Deiah Moody, Taylor Russon | ||
| Contenders: Chelsea Hallinan, Emily Innes, Lana Navarro | ||
| Wildcards: Kristin Lin, Mary McDonough, Olivia Oppegard, Lilly Tubbs, Jessica Reith |
Floor
2024 Event Ranking: No. 39 | NQS: 49.290 | Average: 49.167
| Event Overview: Floor is consistent for Washington, but it doesn’t tend to be a high-scoring event. There are plenty of returning options here, so figuring out who can most consistently stay out of the 9.700 range will be key. | ||
| Locks: Emily Innes, Lana Navarro, Emily Pires | ||
| Contenders: Caitlin McWilliams, Taylor Russon | ||
| Wildcards: Kira Bolden, Kristin Lin, Mary McDonough, Lex Mouyenga, Emily Pires, Lilly Tubbs |
Records Watch
Team: 198.025 | AA: 39.875 | VT: 49.450/10.000 | UB: 49.675/10.000 | BB: 49.650/10.000 | FX: 49.725/10.000
Most of Washington’s records date to 2004 or before and are extremely difficult to beat. If the three 10.0 SV vaults materialize and everyone lands well on the same day in front of enthusiastic road judges, then the vault record could, in theory, be in danger. But that’s a big ask.
The Big Picture
Head coach Jessa Hansen Parker will face a bit of a rebuild process in her first year in Seattle, but it could be a lot worse. There are returning athletes on this roster with more potential than they’ve shown so far, which will provide important flexibility. This is still a team that should make regionals and might stay out of the play-in round if all goes well.
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Article by Rebecca Scally
