Leave No Doubt: Sooners Claim Eighth National Title

Saturday, April 18

Fort Worth, Texas

3 PM

University of Oklahoma

198.1625

197.6875

Florida

The Oklahoma women's gymnastics team poses with the 2026 National Championship Trophy.

Photo by: Brendall Vargas/University of Oklahoma

Leave No Doubt: Sooners Claim Eighth National Title

April 18, 2026 | Women's Gymnastics

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By: Lindsey Magness

FORT WORTH, Texas — Leave no doubt.

In a meet that came down to the final routine, the Oklahoma women's gymnastics team earned the program's eighth national championship Saturday afternoon inside Dickies Arena. The Sooners posted a 198.1625 to claim the 2026 national title over LSU (198.075), Florida (197.6875) and Minnesota (197.3750).

"It was disbelief today," head coach K.J. Kindler said. "We were on the edge of our seats and I honestly could not believe it. You don't get immune to the feeling of having an accomplishment like this. All those teams are special in very different ways, and you have different memories based on the personnel. That euphoric feeling never goes away."

Saturday marked the Sooners' 12th trip in the last 13 years to the team finals. This is Oklahoma's fourth title in the last five years, and all eight of its national championships have come in the last 12 years. OU is now in sole possession of third place for most national titles in NCAA history. This is also the third time the Sooners have won the title in back-to-back seasons (2016-2017, 2022-2023).

After leading at the halfway point, OU found itself in second place by .075 heading to the final rotation. Ella Murphy led off floor with a gorgeous routine for a 9.875, followed by a big 9.9375 from Lily Pederson. Pederson's routine was the turning point of the meet as no Sooner scored less than a 9.90 the rest of the rotation.

"We've been really prepared for this," Pederson said. "In the moment, you have to go big or go home and holding back is just going to make it worse. None of us were paying attention to the score because at the end of the day, if we do our best gymnastics, that's all we can ask for."

Following Pederson was Keira Wells who rebounded from a fall on beam to earn a 9.90 in the No. 3 spot. Elle Mueller added a 9.9375 and Mackenzie Estep tallied a 9.9125 to set up senior Faith Torrez with a chance to secure the title. Torrez delivered a phenomenal final collegiate routine, earning a 9.95 and narrowly edging out LSU for the crown.

"This is a dream come true," Torrez said. "(After my routine) Tom (Haley) said 'thank you' and I said 'no, thank you for trusting me and putting me in that position and allowing me to do that. Thanks to all the coaching staff for trusting me as much as they do to go out there and do a routine."

Oklahoma posted scores of 49.600 on vault, 49.4875 on bars, 49.4375 on beam and 49.6375 on floor en route to the title.

The Sooners led after the first rotation, narrowly holding an .0875 advantage over LSU (49.5125). Florida was third at 49.3875 and Minnesota fourth at 49.2625.

In the anchor spot, Pederson tied the highest OU vault score in NCAA Championship competition with a near-perfect 9.9875 on a stuck Yurchenko 1.5. Hannah Scheible had the second-highest mark of the rotation with a 9.9625 on her stuck handspring pike half. Torrez added her fifth 9.90-plus mark of the championships with a 9.90, while Wells notched a 9.8875. Estep tallied a 9.8625 and Elizabeth Blessey returned to the lineup with a 9.8375.

OU slightly extended their lead in the second rotation, up 99.0875 at the halfway point to LSU's 98.9875. Florida was third with a 98.8375, while Minnesota sat fourth at 98.7125.

Pederson moved immediately to leading off the uneven bars lineup with a 9.85. Murphy made her NCAA Finals debut with a stunning final handstand and a stuck dismount for a 9.9125. In the No. 3 spot, Estep showed off her impressive giant full to full in dismount for a 9.9375. Scheible added a 9.8625 in the No. 4 spot. After earning All-America honors on Thursday night, Caitlin Smith drilled her double layout dismount for a 9.90 in the No. 5 spot. In the anchor spot, Torrez added a 9.875.

A tough third rotation had the Sooners behind for the first time on the night, trailing LSU 148.600-148.525.

Addison Fatta, competing only beam due to an injury, led off with a 9.7375, followed by a 9.050 from Wells who came off the beam on her series. Murphy came up with a clutch routine when it was needed most, looking secure on her series and sticking her dismount for a 9.9375 in the No. 3 spot.

"Ella Murphy had guts of steel going up as a freshman after that mistake," Kindler said. "She told me 'I have never been so nervous in my life but once I stood up I felt calm.' Kudos to her as a freshman to be in that position and to rally the way she did."

Pederson continued the clutch performances with a huge 9.95 in the fourth position. Mueller stayed strong and steady in the penultimate spot, earning a 9.8625. Torrez once again came up with a big score when OU needed it most, earning a 9.95 on her final collegiate beam routine.

The national title is the culmination of an incredible season in which OU posted a 35-1-1 record, secured an SEC regular season title for the second year in a row and won an NCAA Regional championship for the 16th straight year. On Thursday night, eight Sooners combined for 15 All-America honors and Faith Torrez (all-around) and Keira Wells (vault) brought home the 23rd and 24th individual national titles in program history.