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On the first weekend of the 2026 NCAA women’s gymnastics season, University of California, Los Angeles sent a clear message: the Bruins are ready to chase another national title.
At the Best of the West Quad meet inside Alaska Airlines Arena on the University of Washington campus in Seattle, UCLA delivered a 196.975 to win a four-team field that included No. 20 California, host Washington and No. 17 Oregon State. Not only did the score put the Bruins atop the meet standings, it also ranked as the highest team total in the nation during the opening week of the 2026 NCAA women’s gymnastics season, propelling UCLA to No. 1 in the early national rankings.
Senior Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles anchored the performance with a dominant all-around showing, while a deep, balanced lineup showcased why the Bruins look like one of the season’s premier contenders in their new Big Ten home.
The Best of the West Quad set up as an early litmus test for a UCLA squad with championship expectations. Facing two ranked Pac-12 opponents and a motivated host in Washington, the Bruins needed to be sharp in their first outing of the year.
UCLA opened on floor exercise with a 49.075, a solid but not spectacular number that left the Bruins trailing California after the first rotation. Chiles led the way at 9.925, and freshman standout Tiana Sumanasekera added a 9.850 as she made her collegiate debut. The routines were enough to keep UCLA in striking distance while giving the lineup a foundation to build on.
On vault in the second rotation, UCLA began to seize control. The Bruins posted a 49.150 by hitting six vaults of 9.800 or better, highlighted by a 9.900 from Chiles. The collective consistency on vault narrowed the gap and set the stage for a decisive push on the final two events.
The turning point came on uneven bars. With California still in the mix, UCLA put up a 49.225 to move in front. Chiles stuck her double-layout dismount for a 9.925, while teammates Mika Webster-Longin and Ashlee Sullivan each contributed 9.850 routines. That bar rotation gave the Bruins the lead entering the final event and shifted the pressure squarely onto the rest of the field.
UCLA responded with its best event of the afternoon: a lights-out 49.525 on balance beam that tied the program record for the highest beam score ever in a season opener. That closing performance not only secured the meet title but also underscored one of the Bruins’ signature strengths in 2026.
The final beam rotation at Alaska Airlines Arena was a snapshot of what UCLA hopes will define this season: a blend of veteran composure and freshman firepower.
Redshirt freshman Katelyn Rosen opened with a steady 9.825, immediately setting a confident tone. Sophomore Nola Matthews followed with a 9.850, continuing the momentum and providing a buffer for the star-studded back half of the lineup.
In the middle of the order, Sumanasekera, a 2024 Olympic alternate competing in her first collegiate meet, delivered one of the afternoon’s standout routines. Her 9.950 matched the highest beam score ever recorded by a UCLA freshman in their debut meet over the last two decades, an early signal that she could become a cornerstone of the rotation.
Webster-Longin followed with a 9.800 to keep the counting scores high, and then Chiles stepped up and nearly brought the arena to a standstill. Her composed, technically precise set earned a 9.975, including a 10.0 from one of the two judges. It tied her career high and marked the 23rd 9.975 of her NCAA career.
Senior specialist Ciena Alipio anchored the rotation with a 9.925 in her first meet as the Bruins’ beam closer, slamming the door on the competition and completing a 49.525 that tied a UCLA record for a season-opening beam total.
Even though Washington ultimately placed third, the Huskies’ program attendance record of 8,403 fans created a postseason-like atmosphere that tested UCLA’s poise. Performing a record-tying beam rotation under that kind of spotlight suggested that the Bruins are already comfortable in pressure situations that resemble what they hope to see at the NCAA postseason later in the year.
While the team performance was the story for UCLA, Chiles’ individual dominance at the Best of the West Quad was impossible to ignore. The Olympic gold medalist swept at least a share of first place on every event and easily claimed the all-around title.
Her scores:
The 39.725 all-around total was more than half a point ahead of the rest of the field and stood as the highest all-around score by a UCLA gymnast in a season opener since Kyla Ross posted the same mark in 2020. It also holds up favorably against recent NCAA individual championship-winning totals, illustrating that Chiles opened the season at a level capable of contending for national titles if she sustains it.
On beam, her 9.975 not only tied her career high but also added to a remarkable personal stat line: it was the 23rd time she has recorded a 9.975 in NCAA competition. On bars, she showed trademark precision with a clean set and a stuck double-layout dismount, while on vault and floor she blended power with the kind of polish that has become her hallmark.
By the end of opening weekend, Chiles’ scores had vaulted her to the top of the first set of individual national rankings, reflecting just how complete her performance was across all four events.
UCLA’s 196.975 was not just a one-star show. Depth and contributions across the lineup were central to the Bruins’ success and will be equally important if they hope to maintain a top national ranking throughout the season.
Sumanasekera, the freshman who drew attention as a 2024 Olympic alternate, made an immediate impact on multiple events. In addition to her 9.950 on beam, she scored 9.850 on floor and 9.800 on vault. She also delivered a 9.850 in an exhibition bars routine, hinting that she could soon emerge as a reliable all-arounder and a key complement to Chiles in multi-event roles.
Alipio stepped into a new role as the Bruins’ beam anchor and delivered a clutch 9.925 in that pressure-heavy spot. She also added a personal-best 9.800 on floor in an exhibition routine, another sign of the roster-wide growth UCLA is experiencing this season.
Webster-Longin quietly turned in three routines of 9.800 or higher across the afternoon, helping stabilize the team totals and ensuring that UCLA avoided counting major mistakes. That kind of consistency is vital in early-season meets, where lineups are still settling and coaches are testing combinations.
When the dust settled, the final team standings underscored UCLA’s balance and depth: the Bruins finished comfortably ahead of California’s 196.000, with Washington at 195.625 and Oregon State at 195.550. Yet the meet still required contributions from nearly every spot in the lineup to maximize the opportunity and convert promising routines into a nation-leading score.
Three days after the Best of the West Quad, the Big Ten Conference recognized just how dominant UCLA had been. On January 6, the league announced that the Bruins had swept all three of its weekly women’s gymnastics awards:
It marked the first time any Big Ten program had claimed all three weekly women’s gymnastics honors in the same week since Minnesota achieved the feat in 2021. In its release, the conference also pointed out that UCLA’s 196.975 was the top team score in the nation in week one, and that the Bruins held the No. 1 national ranking overall, along with the top ranking on balance beam and top-four rankings on every other event.
For UCLA, now competing in the Big Ten after its conference realignment move, that kind of immediate recognition adds national credibility and validates the program’s status as a premier power in its new league.
Chiles’ early-season form is even more remarkable given how unconventional her fall semester looked. Instead of a traditional preseason focused solely on campus training, the Olympic champion spent months in the national spotlight competing on the television show "Dancing with the Stars."
Partnered with professional dancer Ezra Sosa in Season 34, Chiles made a deep run on the show, ultimately finishing third and earning her first-ever perfect 30 out of 30 from the judges. Shortly after the season wrapped, she returned to Westwood, where she balanced a full course load with ramped-up training for her senior gymnastics campaign.
The crossover between primetime television and NCAA competition showed up immediately in Seattle. Chiles’ season-opening floor routine featured music and choreography inspired by her time on "Dancing with the Stars," layering entertainment-focused performance quality on top of world-class tumbling. Her 9.925 on floor reflected both the difficulty of her passes and the polish she brought to performance and presentation, drawing national attention as a viral-ready moment early in the 2026 season.
That same showmanship and poise were evident on all four events at the Best of the West Quad, where she not only paced UCLA but also set a standard for individual excellence that other top all-arounders will be chasing as the season unfolds.
For longtime followers of NCAA women’s gymnastics, UCLA’s 196.975 in Seattle fits within a broader story of national relevance. The Bruins last captured the NCAA championship in 2018, when a dramatic final beam rotation vaulted them past Oklahoma to win the program’s seventh national title. That meet, often cited as one of the most memorable finishes in collegiate gymnastics history, cemented UCLA’s reputation for rising in high-pressure moments and delivering on beam when it matters most.
More recently, UCLA finished as the national runner-up in 2025, once again trailing only Oklahoma. That performance reestablished the Bruins as a consistent national contender after a period of transition and set the stage for high expectations entering 2026.
The dominant win at the Best of the West Quad does not guarantee a title in April. Early-season scores often evolve as lineups are refined, athletes build endurance and other contenders round into form. But a 196.975 in week one, combined with a record-tying beam rotation and an all-around star in peak form, is the type of start that signals legitimate championship aspirations.
External observers and national outlets routinely point to early rankings as a directional indicator, not a final verdict. According to publicly available NCAA gymnastics coverage and historical championship data, programs that open the year with top national marks and strong event rankings generally remain in the mix into March and April, particularly when they feature returning All-Americans and Olympic-caliber talent.[1]
UCLA checks those boxes. With Chiles headlining, Sumanasekera emerging, and veterans like Alipio and Webster-Longin solidifying key roles, the Bruins’ early resume already supports their status as a central player in the race for the 2026 NCAA women’s gymnastics championship.
For prospective student-athletes, parents and club coaches watching the 2026 NCAA women’s gymnastics season unfold, UCLA’s performance at the Best of the West Quad is instructive on several levels.
First, it highlights how elite programs structure lineups with a mix of stars and depth. Chiles might drive headlines, but the Bruins’ ability to count reliable 9.800-plus routines from underclassmen and specialists is what turned a solid start into a nation-leading score. Recruits aiming for this level of competition should pay attention not only to standout routines but also to how coaches reward consistency and versatility.
Second, the meet underscores how high-profile programs integrate freshmen and newcomers quickly. Sumanasekera stepped into a high-pressure beam role in her first outing and delivered a 9.950, showing that top teams are willing to trust rookies immediately when they demonstrate readiness. That can be both motivating and clarifying for high school athletes evaluating where they might fit in future lineups.
Finally, UCLA’s performance illustrates how off-the-floor experiences can enhance on-the-floor success. Chiles’ stint on "Dancing with the Stars" did not pull her away from NCAA readiness; instead, it added a dimension of performance quality that resonated on her floor routine and built her public profile. For recruits juggling national team commitments, creative projects or other high-level pursuits, UCLA’s approach reflects a program comfortable embracing athletes with multifaceted careers, as long as they can manage the balance academically and athletically.
For athletes drawn to big-stage NCAA gymnastics and life in a world-class city, UCLA is a marquee option, offering a combination of elite athletics, academics and media exposure. But Los Angeles is also home to several other strong institutions that may fit different academic goals, athletic levels or campus vibes.
Some additional Los Angeles-area programs to explore include:
Each campus offers its own combination of academic strengths, location advantages and athletic experiences. For student-athletes, building a thoughtful college list that includes a range of institutional types can open up more realistic and rewarding options.
Whether you are inspired by UCLA’s 196.975 at the Best of the West Quad or simply trying to understand where you might fit in the broader college sports ecosystem, having the right tools can make the process less overwhelming.
Pathley helps athletes and families explore colleges and athletic opportunities with smarter search and personalized insights. You can start at the main site, https://www.pathley.ai/, to learn how AI-powered guidance can support your recruiting journey.
If you are ready to get more specific, you can use Pathley Chat as your on-demand recruiting assistant. It can help you:
To unlock the full experience, including saved college lists and more detailed tools, you can create a free Pathley profile. From there, you can track schools like UCLA and other programs that match your goals, stay organized as you communicate with coaches and make more informed decisions about where to focus your development.
As the 2026 NCAA women’s gymnastics season unfolds and teams like UCLA chase national titles, you can use those storylines as inspiration while building your own path. With the right information, strategic planning and tools like Pathley, you can move closer to finding the college environment where you will thrive in the classroom and in competition.
For now, the story in Seattle belongs to the Bruins. With a nation-leading 196.975, a record-tying beam rotation and a superstar in Jordan Chiles at the center of it all, UCLA has set a high bar for the rest of the NCAA to chase in 2026.
