The postseason has officially arrived.
The NCAA unveiled the bracket for the 2021 women’s gymnastics championships Monday afternoon. The No. 6-ranked Red Rocks — the reigning Pac-12 champions — are regional hosts this season and the Salt Lake City Regional will be held at the Maverik Center in West Valley City (approximately 2,500 spectators will be allowed).
Utah has qualified for the last 44 national championships and all 38 NCAA Championships — the latter began in 1982 — the only program in the country to do so.
Utah is the No. 2 seed in the SLC regional and will compete in the afternoon session on Friday, April 2 at 1 p.m. MT.
Regionals begin Thursday, April 1 and continue through Saturday, April 3. Each regional includes nine teams and consists of four meets — a play-in meet and three quad meets.
After three days of competition, the best two teams from each regional will advance to nationals, a two-day, three-meet affair on April 16 and 17 in Fort Worth, Texas, at the conclusion of which a national champion will be crowned.
(To learn more on how the was bracket is set, read here).
These are the eight teams that stand between the Red Rocks and a record 45th-consecutive national championship appearance. (Only the top 16 teams out of the 36 that qualify are seeded in the postseason).
LSU Tigers
Seed: 1
Rank: 3
NQS: 197.813
Record: 5-3
Best meet: A 198.050-198.150 loss at home to top-ranked Florida
Event rankings
- Balance beam — 7
- Floor exercise — 2
- Uneven bars — 6
- Vault — 2
Notable gymnasts
- Haleigh Bryant — ranked No. 9 in the all-around, No. 3 on vault and No. 4 on floor
- Sami Durante — ranked No. 11 on bars
- Alyona Shchennikova — ranked No. 12 on vault, No. 17 on bars
- Kiya Johnson — ranked No. 12 on vault
- Elena Arenas — ranked No. 24 on vault
The latest
LSU finished in second place at the SEC championships, behind Alabama, with a 197.775. After winning their first four meets to start the season, the Tigers lost three straight, to Florida, Alabama and Kentucky, before bouncing back with a win over Missouri and the second-place finish at the SEC championships.
The history
Utah and LSU have meet in the postseason before, as recently as 2019, when they were in the same regional — LSU was also the No. 1 seed then, with Utah the No. 2 seed. The Red Rocks are 32-7 all-time against the Tigers, but have lost the last five meets between the teams, going back to 2017.
The challenge
LSU stands as the biggest threat to Utah of the eight other teams in the SLC regional. The Tigers have had moments this season where they have appeared capable of beating any team in the country, but have also shown some real vulnerability at times. Immensely talented, look for LSU to be one of the two teams from the regional to advance to nationals.
Arizona State Sun Devils
Seed: 3
Rank: 11
NQS: 197.088
Record: 5-5
Best meet: A 197.450-194.750 victory over rival Arizona
Event rankings
- Balance beam — 20
- Floor exercise — 17
- Uneven bars — 12
- Vault — 13
Notable gymnasts
- Hannah Scharf — ranked No. 16 in the all-around, No. 28 on floor
- Anaya Smith — ranked No. 24 on vault
- Cairo Leonard Baker — ranked No. 34 on bars, No. 37 on floor
The latest
ASU finished in fourth place at the Pac-12 championships, behind Utah, Cal and UCLA with a 196.375. The Sun Devils finished the regular season with wins in three of their final four meets, with the only loss coming on the road against Boise State.
The history
Utah and ASU have met 97 times, with the Red Rocks winning 80 of those competitions. This season, the Red Rocks defeated the Sun Devils both in Tempe and at the Pac-12 championships. ASU last beat Utah in 2003.
The challenge
The Sun Devils are in the midst of one of their best seasons in recent memory and when on, like they were against the Red Rocks in early February, they can put a real scare into the top teams. That being said, it would take some significant miscues by Utah or LSU for ASU to advance to nationals, and the Sun Devils will have their work cut out for them to even make the regional final.
Kentucky Wildcats
Seed: 4
Rank: 14
NQS: 196.969
Record: 6-4
Best meet: A 197.100-196.800 win at home against LSU
Event rankings
- Balance beam — 13
- Floor exercise — 23
- Uneven Bars — 16
- Vault — 13
Notable gymnasts
- Raena Worley — ranked No. 14 in the all-around, No. 21 on floor
- Josie Angeny — ranked No. 24 in the all-around
- Bailey Bunn — ranked No. 26 in the all-around
The latest
Kentucky won the day session of the SEC championships, defeating both Auburn and Missouri with a 196.825. The Wildcats competed against a top 25 every week in the regular season and defeated LSU, Arkansas, Missouri and Auburn, while losing to Florida, Georgia and Alabama.
The history
Kentucky and Utah have only met twice, first at nationals in St. Louis, Missouri in 2018 and then in both team’s season opener last season, in Salt Lake City. The Red Rocks have defeated the Wildcats both times.
The challenge
Kentucky faced a gauntlet this season in the SEC, like most years, and did well enough. Upset victories over LSU and Arkansas both came at home, and the Wildcats challenged Florida (road) and Alabama (road and home), before eventually losing. Utah won’t face Kentucky until the regional final (if the Wildcats advance) and should be able to defeat them for a third time.
Boise State Broncos
Rank: 17
NQS: 196.788
Record: 11-3
Best meet: A 196.900 split decision at the Tri-Meet against BYU and Air Force.
Event rankings
- Balance beam — 31
- Floor exercise — 14
- Uneven bars — 12
- Vault — 19
Notable gymnasts
- Emily Muhlenhaupt — ranked No. 4 on bars
- Courtney Blackson — ranked No. 44 on vault
- Adriana Popp — ranked No. 47 on floor
The latest
Boise State finished second behind BYU at the MRGC championships. Prior to that, the Broncos had defeated 7 of their last eight opponents, the lone exception being the Cougars.
The history
Utah and Boise State have faced off 16 times, going back to 1983, and the Red Rocks have won every meet. The last time the Broncos and Red Rocks met was in 2017 in Salt Lake City.
The challenge
Boise State has had an interesting the season. The Broncos have lost twice to BYU and once to Southern Utah, but defeated everyone else they’ve faced, including four Pac-12 teams – Oregon State, Arizona State, Stanford and Washington. The Broncos and Red Rocks will meet in the regional semifinal, but barring any major mistakes Utah should improve to 17-0 against BSU.
Southern Utah Thunderbirds
Rank: 21
NQS: 196.675
Record: 6-11
Best meet: A 197.275-195.975 win over Utah State at home on Feb. 19
Event rankings
- Balance beam — 16
- Floor exercise — 20
- Uneven bars — 20
- Vault — 25
Notable gymnasts
- Karley McClain — ranked No. 33 in the all-around, No. 37 on floor
- Morgan Alfaro — ranked No. 44 on vault
- Shylen Murakami — ranked No. 47 on bars
The latest
Southern Utah finished in fourth and final place at the MRGC championships, behind BYU, Boise State and Utah State. Prior to that, things had been hit and miss this season for the Thunderbirds, who won the Arizona Tri-Meet, but finished third at the Denver Tri-Meet. SUU beat all of its conference foes this year, except for BYU.
The history
Southern Utah and Utah have met 26 times, with the Red Rocks taking every meet. The teams met earlier this season at the Best of Utah, and against in 2020. The last time the Red Rocks and Thunderbirds have met in the postseason was at the SLC regional in 2018.
The challenge
Utah will face Southern Utah in the regional semifinals, but the Thunderbirds will be the underdog in that quad meet, the Red Rocks the favorite. If history is any indication, Utah will have little to no problem defeating their in-state foes.
Utah State Aggies
Rank: 22
NQS: 196.531
Record: 3-12
Best meet: A second place finish at the Denver Tri-Meet with a 196.775
Event rankings
- Balance beam — 16
- Floor exercise — 29
- Uneven bars — 29
- Vault — 21
Notable gymnasts
- Autumn DeHarde — ranked No. 21 on balance beam
- Leighton Varnadore – ranked No. 49 in the all-around
- Mikaela Meyer – ranked No. 44 on vault
The latest
Utah State finished in third place at the MRGC championships. The Aggies have lost the majority of their meets this year, with wins over only Southern Utah, but have routinely posted some of the best scores in program history.
The history
Utah has been the dominant team in what has been a long history between the Red Rocks and Aggies. Utah holds a 92-3 edge over USU in the series, with the last Utah State victory coming in 1979.
The challenge
Utah has already faced Utah State twice this season, and both times walked away with the win quite easily. The Red Rocks and Aggies won’t meet until the regional final and USU would have to pull an upset to make it that far.
Temple Owls
Rank: 30
NQS: 195.963
Record: 4-13-1
Best meet: A meet and title-winning showing at the EAGL championships.
Event rankings
- Balance beam — 29
- Floor exercise — 22
- Uneven bars — 41
- Vault — 32
Notable gymnast
- Ariana Castrence — ranked No. 45 in the all-around
The latest
Temple posted a season-best 196.500 at the EAGL championships, winning the title. Before that, the Owls had defeated three of their last four opponents.
The history
There is none. Temple and Utah have never met.
The challenge
The Red Rocks will probably never compete against the Owl. Temple is one of two teams, along with Arizona, in the play-in meet and the winner will enter on LSU’s side of the bracket. If Temple were to make it to the regional finals and face Utah, it would be one of the more miraculous runs of the postseason.
Arizona Wildcats
Rank: 34
NQS: 195.781
Record: 5-8
Best meet: A second place finish at a tri-meet against Air Force and Southern Utah
Event rankings
- Balance beam — 32
- Floor exercise — 32
- Uneven bars — 35
- Vault — 41
Notable gymnast
- Maile Hargrove — ranked No. 94 on floor, No. 95 on vault
The latest
Arizona finished in second place in the day session at the Pac-12 championships, behind only Oregon State. After a mid-season dip, the Wildcats have scored above a 196 in two of their last three competitions.
The history
Utah and Arizona have met 66 times, including once already season, twice if you combine the two sessions of the conference championships, and the Red Rocks have won every single meet.
The challenge
Much like with Temple, their realistically isn’t an avenue for Utah and Arizona to meet again this season. The Wildcats would only see the Red Rocks in the regional final and to get there Arizona would have to defeat Temple and then finished ahead of Kentucky and Utah State the following day.