Hello from Dickies Arena!
This is the dark horse session: None of the four teams competing have ever won a national title.
No. 2 LSU has come the closest, landing in second three times since 2017. This is a very different vibe from last year’s team that scrapped their way to an unexpected fourth place finish despite limited depth due to injury. With all the key players (mostly) healthy and star all arounder Haleigh Bryant having the best season of her career, the Tigers are the decided frontrunners to advance.
Hot on their heels are the Golden Bears. Cal has never made it past round one at nationals, but have positioned themselves as a legitimate threat for the final podium this year as the No. 3 seed. Cal is the only team in the nation other than LSU that has consistently challenged the Sooners’ scores, thanks in no small part to junior Mya Lauzon’s breakout season.
Head coach Jordyn Wieber and assistant coach Kyla Ross were gearing up for the 2012 London Olympics the last time the Razorbacks made it to the final round. Regardless of Thursday’s outcome, this will be their first time cracking the top 10 since and—it’s worth noting—the first full roster of gymnasts recruited by Wieber.
Similarly, Stanford is having its best season under…
