UCLA’s Jordan Chiles competes on the uneven bars during the NCAA gymnastics championships on Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
UCLA’s Emma Malabuyo celebrates after competing on the uneven bars during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
UCLA’s Jordan Chiles competes on the floor exercise during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
UCLA’s Frida Esparza competes on the uneven bars during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
UCLA’s Brooklyn Moors competes on the floor exercise during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
UCLA’s Emma Malabuyo competes on the floor exercise during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
UCLA’s Katelyn Rosen competes on the uneven bars during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
UCLA’s Macy McGowan competes on the floor exercise during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
The UCLA gymnasts and staff celebrate after learning their team score in the NCAA gymnastics semifinals on Thursday night in Fort Worth, Texas. UCLA edged defending national champion LSU to earn one of four spots in Saturday’s finals, along with Oklahoma, Utah and Missouri. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Utah’s Ella Zirbes competes on the floor exercise during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Utah’s Avery Neff competes on the floor exercise during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
LSU’s Haleigh Bryant competes on the balance beam during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
LSU’s Olivia Dunne, right, and other teammatres console each other after learning their team score in the semifinal of the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Utah’s Makenna Smith competes on the balance beam during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Utah’s Amelie Morgan competes on the balance beam during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Utah’s Grace McCallum celebrates after competing on the floor excercise during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Utah’s Grace McCallum celebrates the team after competing on the uneven bars during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
LSU’s Konnor McClain competes on the floor exercise during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Utah’s Ana Padurariu competes on the balance beam during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
LSU’s Aleah Finnegan stands by the beam after falling off during her routine during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Utah’s Avery Neff celebrates after competing on the uneven bars during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Utah’s Ashley Glynn competes on the floor exercise during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
LSU’s Kailin Chio celebrates with the team after competing on the vault during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
LSU’s Olivia Dunne watches teammates warm up on the uneven bars during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Utah’s Ella Zirbes celebrates after competing on the uneven bars during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Oregon State’s Jade Carey competes on the uneven bars during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Cal’s Mya Lauzon competes on the floor exercise during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Oregon State’s Jade Carey competes on the balance beam during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Cal’s Mya Lauzon competes on the floor exercise during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Oregon State’s Jade Carey competes on the floor exercise during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Oklahoma’s Jordan Bowers competes on the uneven bars during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Oklahoma’s Jordan Bowers celebrates after competing on the balance beam during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Utah team and staff celebrate after learning the team’s score in the semifinal of the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
LSU athletes listen to staff after they learnd their team score in the semifinal of the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
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UCLA’s Jordan Chiles competes on the uneven bars during the NCAA gymnastics championships on Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
FORT WORTH, Texas — Jordan Chiles and the UCLA gymnastics team will compete for an NCAA title on Saturday after advancing out of their semifinal session at the NCAA gymnastics championships on Thursday night.
Fifth-seeded UCLA will be joined in the finals by No. 4 Utah, No. 7 Missouri and No. 2 Oklahoma, which has won five of the past eight national championships.
“I could not be more proud of this team,” UCLA head coach Janelle McDonald said. “They set out from day one to make something special happen, and to be headed to Four on the Floor is everything we could ask for and hope for. But job’s not done! We’ve got one more meet and we’re going to come out swinging on Saturday.”
Chiles followed teammate Frida Esparza’s 9.9250 on the uneven bars with her winning score of 9.975, while teammate Brooklyn Moors secured her first NCAA title in floor exercise with a 9.9625. Moore, a graduate student, lifted UCLA to a 49.5250 first-rotation score for an early lead. The Bruins – the top-ranked floor exercise team in the nation – posted five scores of 9.86 or higher, three of which were 9.9 or above.
The Bruins fell to third place after a 49.2375 on vault in rotation two, then used a 49.4250 on the uneven bars in rotation three to climb back into first place. Still, UCLA, Utah, LSU and Michigan State were all separated by less than two-tenths of a point going into the final rotation.
Emily Lee posted a sub-9.70 score to begin UCLA’s turn on the balance beam, which left the Bruins with little margin for error. Katelyn Rosen delivered with a 9.8875. Chiles added a 9.8250, then Chae Campbell scored a 9.9125. Ciena Alipio, in her only routine of the night, scored a 9.950, setting the stage for Emma Malabuyo on the Bruins’ last routine of the night. The senior was nearly flawless, receiving three perfect 10s and a final score of 9.9750 as UCLA totaled 49.5500 on the beam for a meet total of 197.7375 and held off top-seeded LSU (197.5250) to secure the fourth and final berth in the finals.
“I might cry again,” Chiles told ESPN after the meet. “I believed in this team from the very beginning. There’s so much pride, so much joy, so much fun in the atmosphere. I knew this was our year.”
Utah (197.7625) won the night session by closing with a 49.6500 rotation on the uneven bars – all of its counted scores received a 9.9 or better. Utah finished just .025 ahead of the Bruins.
Big Ten champion UCLA will try to win its eighth national championship but its first since 2018 on Saturday at 1 p.m. PT (ABC/Ch. 7).
Utah, headed to the finals for the fifth consecutive time, is looking to add to its NCAA-record nine national titles with its first win since 1995. Oklahoma (197.550) is headed to the finals for the 11th time in the last 12 years – searching for a seventh national title. Missouri (197.3000) earned a spot in the finals for the first time in program history, with a previous best finish of fifth in 2022.
Florida, Michigan State and Alabama joined LSU as the four semifinalists who were eliminated.
Thursday’s semifinal sessions also decided the NCAA champions in the women’s all-around competition. Two-time U.S. Olympian Jade Carey, who represents Oregon State, and 2021 Olympic silver medalist Grace McCallum (Utah) were among the headliners in a crowded field that also featured U.S. alternates Leanne Wong (Florida) and Joscelyn Roberson (Arkansas).
Oklahoma’s Jordan Bowers ultimately won the all-around title Thursday, her afternoon score of 39.7125 finishing just ahead of McCallum and Sooners teammate Faith Torrez, who placed second and third, respectively. Carey, competing at night, needed a 9.9375 on the vault to tie Bowers for the all-around title but had a hop on the landing and finished fourth. Chiles finished fifth, while Roberson was 13th and Wong placed 17th.
LSU freshman Kailin Chio claimed the vault championship with a 9.975 to become the Tigers’ 19th individual champion and their eighth in the vault competition.