The Gators pose with their third-place trophy on Saturday at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo: Hannah White/UAA Communications)
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS: Gators Finish Third as Oklahoma Repeats
Saturday, April 18, 2026 | Gymnastics, Scott Carter
FORT WORTH, Texas — The Gators started with a wobble on beam and closed with an awkward landing on uneven bars.
Considering Florida entered the NCAA Championships as the top-ranked team in both events, that sums up the way Saturday went for UF.
The Gators had to be at their best to win their first national championship since 2015, but they were more like average in the team standings, resting in third or fourth place as Southeastern Conference rivals Oklahoma and LSU battled for the title.
Florida finished third behind Oklahoma, which repeated as national champions and has now won four of the last five. The Sooners posted a team score of 198.1625, ahead of runner-up LSU (198.0750), Florida (197.6875) and Minnesota (197.3750).
"I saw this team fight until the end,'' Gators head coach Jenny Rowland said. "They didn't back down. It is not gymnastically what we wanted at the end. Emotionally, this team gave it their all and left it all out there."
Four weeks after the Gators beat Oklahoma and LSU for the SEC Championship, they had trouble mounting a serious threat on Saturday after a 49.3875 balance beam score. The rotation started with a wobble from Skylar Draser (9.8375) in the leadoff spot, and a 9.8000 from eMjae Frazier was later counted when Alyssa Arana, in the final spot in the beam rotation, fell for a 9.1500.
While the Gators had plenty of time to close the gap after the first rotation, they didn't have enough highlight performances to dig out of their early hole. Senior Selena Harris-Miranda delivered big on beam with a 9.9375, and Skye Blakely turned in a 9.9125 floor routine.
On vault, a sore spot all season for the Gators, Harris-Miranda and Frazier both scored team-high 9.8750s.
Florida turned in a typical strong performance on the uneven bars with a 49.6000, with Blakely (9.9950) and Harris-Miranda (9.9950) leading the way. Riley McCusker, who won the individual uneven bars national championship on Thursday, wrapped the Gators' performance with an uncharacteristic step on dismount and dropped score.
McCusker and her teammates were disappointed but not disheartened after returning to the NCAA Finals after being eliminated in the semifinals in 2025.
"It literally could be anyone's day. We could have the same meet tomorrow and it could be a different outcome," McCusker said. "It just wasn't our day. But that's OK.
"I don't think it hit me until after bars, but just so much love and an overall sense of gratitude for this team. I've had the best experience. This team is so special."
The Sooners remain the team to beat in NCAA women's gymnastics. Oklahoma has won eight national championships since its first in 2014, sharing the title with the Gators. Florida remains one of the country's elite programs under Rowland and will look to upgrade its vault lineup before the 2027 season.
Fifth-year senior Selena Harris-Miranda will go down as one of the great transfers in program history. Harris-Miranda joined the Gators from UCLA in 2025 and did not disappoint in her first NCAA Finals appearance Saturday. She finished fourth in the all-around standings, scoring a team-best 39.6625.
The Gators made their 42nd appearance in the NCAA Championships, the most of any program in this year's field. The Gators have advanced to the final round in 18 of their last 21 appearances.
Considering Florida entered the NCAA Championships as the top-ranked team in both events, that sums up the way Saturday went for UF.
The Gators had to be at their best to win their first national championship since 2015, but they were more like average in the team standings, resting in third or fourth place as Southeastern Conference rivals Oklahoma and LSU battled for the title.
Florida finished third behind Oklahoma, which repeated as national champions and has now won four of the last five. The Sooners posted a team score of 198.1625, ahead of runner-up LSU (198.0750), Florida (197.6875) and Minnesota (197.3750).
"I saw this team fight until the end,'' Gators head coach Jenny Rowland said. "They didn't back down. It is not gymnastically what we wanted at the end. Emotionally, this team gave it their all and left it all out there."
Four weeks after the Gators beat Oklahoma and LSU for the SEC Championship, they had trouble mounting a serious threat on Saturday after a 49.3875 balance beam score. The rotation started with a wobble from Skylar Draser (9.8375) in the leadoff spot, and a 9.8000 from eMjae Frazier was later counted when Alyssa Arana, in the final spot in the beam rotation, fell for a 9.1500.
While the Gators had plenty of time to close the gap after the first rotation, they didn't have enough highlight performances to dig out of their early hole. Senior Selena Harris-Miranda delivered big on beam with a 9.9375, and Skye Blakely turned in a 9.9125 floor routine.
On vault, a sore spot all season for the Gators, Harris-Miranda and Frazier both scored team-high 9.8750s.
Florida turned in a typical strong performance on the uneven bars with a 49.6000, with Blakely (9.9950) and Harris-Miranda (9.9950) leading the way. Riley McCusker, who won the individual uneven bars national championship on Thursday, wrapped the Gators' performance with an uncharacteristic step on dismount and dropped score.
McCusker and her teammates were disappointed but not disheartened after returning to the NCAA Finals after being eliminated in the semifinals in 2025.
"It literally could be anyone's day. We could have the same meet tomorrow and it could be a different outcome," McCusker said. "It just wasn't our day. But that's OK.
"I don't think it hit me until after bars, but just so much love and an overall sense of gratitude for this team. I've had the best experience. This team is so special."
WHAT IT MEANS
The Sooners remain the team to beat in NCAA women's gymnastics. Oklahoma has won eight national championships since its first in 2014, sharing the title with the Gators. Florida remains one of the country's elite programs under Rowland and will look to upgrade its vault lineup before the 2027 season.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Fifth-year senior Selena Harris-Miranda will go down as one of the great transfers in program history. Harris-Miranda joined the Gators from UCLA in 2025 and did not disappoint in her first NCAA Finals appearance Saturday. She finished fourth in the all-around standings, scoring a team-best 39.6625.
STAGGERING STATISTIC
The Gators made their 42nd appearance in the NCAA Championships, the most of any program in this year's field. The Gators have advanced to the final round in 18 of their last 21 appearances.
EVENT WINNERS
| Event | Name & School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Vault | Kailin Chio, LSU | 10.0 |
| Bars | Skye Blakely, Florida | 9.95 |
| Selena Harris-Miranda, Florida | 9.95 | |
| Konnor McClain, LSU | 9.95 | |
| Beam | Lily Pederson, OU | 9.95 |
| Faith Torrez, OU | 9.95 | |
| Konnor McClain, LSU | 9.95 | |
| Floor | Faith Torrez, OU | 9.95 |
| All-Around | Lily Pederson, OU | 39.725 |
FINAL TEAM TOTALS
| No. 3 Florida in NCAA Championship Team Final | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 18, 2026 - Dickies Arena (9,475) | |||||
| Team | Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | Total |
| Oklahoma | 49.600 | 49.4875 | 49.4375 | 49.6375 | 198.1625 |
| LSU | 49.475 | 49.6125 | 49.475 | 49.5125 | 198.075 |
| Florida | 49.25 | 49.600 | 49.3875 | 49.450 | 197.6875 |
| Minnesota | 49.275 | 49.2625 | 49.450 | 49.3875 | 197.375 |
Players Mentioned
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/ GymnasticsJenny Rowland - NCAA Final 4-18-2026
Saturday, April 18
Riley McCusker - NCAA Final 4-18-2026
Saturday, April 18
NCAA Championships | Coach Rowland, Riley McCusker and eMjae Frazier 4-16-26
Friday, April 17
NCAA Championships | Riley McCusker - NCAA Semi 4-16-26
Friday, April 17
