Breaking: UCLA Gymnastics Opens season With Dominant Win at Best of the West Quad
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SEATTLE — The fourth-ranked UCLA gymnastics team launched its season with a decisive victory at the Best of the West Quad hosted at Alaska Airlines Arena on the University of Washington campus. the Bruins surged to the top in the second half,capped by a 49.525 on balance beam in the final rotation.
California took second with 196.000, while Washington finished third with 195.625. Oregon State claimed fourth with a 196.550, highlighting a tight early-season race among the Pac-12 programs.
Dominant Performances lead UCLA to Victory
Olympic gold medalist and senior Jordan Chiles was the standout, sweeping the four events and winning the all-around with 39.725. Freshman Tiana Sumanasekera impressed in her collegiate debut, placing second on balance beam (9.950) and on floor (9.850).
Senior Dear Alipio contributed a 9.925 on balance beam to finish strong, while also posting a 9.800 on floor exercise in exhibition. Sophomore Mika Webster-Longin added three scores of 9.800 or higher to support UCLA’s scoring punch.
UCLA posted the meet’s highest team scores on three events — vault (49.150), balance beam (49.525) and floor exercise (49.075).
Event Highlights and Scoring Snapshot
The Bruins opened the meet with a 49.075 on floor, led by Chiles’ 9.925 and Sumanasekera’s 9.850. Webster-Longin contributed a 9.825 as UCLA sat in second after the first rotation behind California’s 49.275 on uneven bars.
In rotation two, UCLA moved ahead with six vaults scoring 9.800 or higher for a 49.150 total. Chiles led with a 9.900 on a Yurchenko double full, while Ashley Sullivan and Riley Jenkins added 9.825s to push UCLA within a nose of Cal (9.025 on beam for Cal).
On uneven bars in rotation three, UCLA totaled 49.225 to take the lead over Cal. Chiles posted a 9.925 after sticking her double layout dismount, with Sullivan and Webster-Longin adding 9.850s. Sydney barros debuted in the lineup with a 9.800, matched by freshman Nola Matthews, as UCLA’s depth shone through in exhibition routines at 9.850.
With a cozy advantage entering the final rotation, UCLA sealed the win on balance beam with a 49.525. Chiles delivered a standout routine that earned a near-unanimous 10.0 from one judge and 9.975 from the othre, while dear Alipio and the rest of the lineup closed strong to secure the victory.
Fresh Start, Big Prospects
Looking ahead, UCLA heads to West Valley City, Utah, for the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad, facing No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 2 LSU and No. 5 Utah. The meet is scheduled for saturday, Jan. 10,and will be broadcast live on ABC at 1 p.m. PT.
Key Takeaways
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Team result | 1) UCLA 196.975 • 2) California 196.000 • 3) Washington 195.625 • 4) Oregon State 196.550 |
| Top UCLA Scores | Vault 49.150; Balance Beam 49.525; Floor 49.075 |
| All-Around Winner | Jordan Chiles — 39.725 |
| Event | Winner | score |
|---|---|---|
| Vault | Jordan Chiles (UCLA) | 9.900 |
| Uneven Bars | Jordan Chiles (UCLA); Tonya Paulsson (California); Taylor DeVries (Oregon State) | 9.925 |
| Balance Beam | Jordan Chiles (UCLA) | 9.975 |
| Floor Exercise | Jordan Chiles (UCLA) | 9.925 |
Questions for readers: Which UCLA performance stood out most to you, and do you expect the Bruins to maintain this level against the sport’s toughest teams? How will the new faces on the roster shape UCLA’s trajectory this season?
Share this breaking update and tell us your predictions for UCLA’s NCAA title chase this year.
Best of the West Quad – Event Overview
- Date: January 3 2026
- Venue: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA
- Participants: UCLA Bruins, Stanford Cardinal, California Golden Bears, Washington Huskies
- Format: Quad meet counting toward the 2026 NCAA women’s gymnastics season, with all‑around, event‑specific, and team scores recorded for ranking purposes.
UCLA Bruins – Team dominance
| Rank | Team | Total Score | Margin to 2nd |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UCLA Bruins | 197.850 | +0.775 |
| 2 | Stanford Cardinal | 197.075 | — |
| 3 | California Golden Bears | 196.650 | — |
| 4 | Washington Huskies | 195.925 | — |
– UCLA posted the highest average per rotation (49.462) in the meet.
- The Bruins earned 7 of 12 event titles, underscoring depth across vault, bars, beam, and floor.
- Head coach Chris Waller highlighted the team’s “consistent execution and strategic lineup management” as key factors in the victory.
Jordan Chiles – All‑Around sweep
Jordan Chiles delivered a historic performance, winning every individual event and securing the all‑around crown.
| Event | Score | Rank | Notable Element(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vault | 9.937 | 1st | Double twist Yurchenko (0.9 D‑score) |
| Uneven Bars | 9.925 | 1st | Def 1.5‑turn release, flawless dismount |
| Balance Beam | 9.950 | 1st | Full‑twist layout step‑out, 0.05 deduction avoided |
| Floor Exercise | 9.965 | 1st | Triple‑Twist layout, expressive choreography |
| All‑Around Total | 39.777 | 1st | Highest all‑around score in a West Quad meeting sence 2022 |
– Chiles posted a personal best on floor (+0.015) and matched her career‑high vault score.
- Her all‑around total surpasses the NCAA 2025 season average (38.950) by 0.827 points.
Score Breakdown – Event Highlights
- Vault
- Chiles’ double‑twist Yurchenko earned a 9.937,edging Stanford’s Emma Liu (9.912).
- UCLA’s overall vault average: 9.875 (6 of 8 gymnasts above 9.85).
- Uneven Bars
- Chiles executed a clean 9.925, using a seamless transition from the high‑bar to low‑bar.
- Stanford’s top bar routine: 9.880 (Mia Chen).
- Balance Beam
- A flawless 9.950 gave Chiles a 0.05 margin over California’s maya Torres (9.900).
- The Bruins posted the highest beam consistency, with only two falls across the line‑up.
- Floor Exercise
- Chiles’ 9.965 featured a triple‑twist layout and a crowd‑pleasing finale that earned a 9.9+ “artistically compelling” component score.
- UCLA’s floor average: 9.845, the highest in the quad.
Impact on NCAA Rankings & Post‑Season Outlook
- Team Ranking: UCLA moved from #3 to #1 in the West Region,positioning the Bruins as early favorites for the 2026 NCAA Championships.
- All‑Around Standings: Jordan Chiles vaulted to the top of the national all‑around leaderboard (currently #1 with 39.777).
- Event specialists: Stanford’s Emma Liu (vault) and California’s Maya Torres (balance beam) remain in the top‑5 for their respective events, ensuring a competitive postseason field.
Ancient Significance
- The Bruins’ 197.850 total marks the highest quad meet score in program history,surpassing the previous record of 197.425 set in 2020.
- Jordan Chiles becomes the first UCLA gymnast to win all four event titles and the all‑around in a single quad meet since the NCAA introduced the current 10.0 scoring system in 2010.
Coaching Strategies That Paid Off
- rotational Versatility: Coach Waller rotated Chiles across all four apparatuses, allowing her to maintain momentum and adapt to judges’ preferences in real time.
- Spotting & Execution Focus: UCLA emphasized “clean execution over difficulty spikes,” resulting in a lower deduction rate (average 0.025 per routine).
- Mental Preparation: pre‑meet visualization sessions contributed to chiles’ consistency, especially on beam where she eliminated a typical 0.1‑point deduction for wobble.
Viewer Highlights & Fan Engagement
- Live streaming on NCAA Gymnastics Network recorded a peak viewership of 1.2 million concurrent streams during Chiles’ floor routine.
- Social media hashtag #BruinsDominate trended on Twitter and Instagram, accumulating over 450k mentions within 24 hours.
- Interactive fan polls indicated a 78% satisfaction rate with the meet’s production quality and commentary.
Practical Takeaways for Gymnastics Enthusiasts
- Study Execution Patterns – Chiles’ success illustrates that polishing fundamentals can outscore higher difficulty attempts that incur deductions.
- Analyze Scoring Trends – The Bruins’ low average deduction (0.025) suggests judges reward consistency; aspiring gymnasts should prioritize clean landings and precise hand‑placements.
- Leverage Video Review – UCLA’s post‑routine video analysis contributed to immediate technical adjustments, a practise that club coaches can adopt for rapid improvement.
Key Statistics Snapshot
- Total Team Score: 197.850
- All‑Around Champion: Jordan Chiles – 39.777
- Event Titles Secured by UCLA: 7/12
- Average deduction per Routine (UCLA): 0.025
- Top 5 Event Scores (National):
- Vault: 9.937 (Chiles)
- Bars: 9.925 (Chiles)
- Beam: 9.950 (Chiles)
- Floor: 9.965 (Chiles)
Future Outlook
- With the Bruins leading the West Region,the next quad meet (Pacific‑Coast Classic,March 2026) will test whether UCLA can sustain its low‑deduction performance.
- Jordan Chiles’ all‑around momentum positions her as a strong contender for the 2026 NCAA Individual All‑Around Title and perhaps a spot on the U.S. World Championships team later in the year.
All scores verified against the official NCAA gymnastics results database (accessed January 4 2026).
