UCLA Gymnasts Excited for the New Season After Productive Offseason Workouts
The UCLA gymnastics team provided fans with an exciting preview of the upcoming 2026 season during its annual Meet the Bruins event on Saturday.
Following a successful previous season, where the Bruins secured a runner-up finish at the NCAA championships and claimed both the Big Ten regular season and conference titles, expectations are high. The team has made significant strides, particularly in bar routines, indicating a promising depth for the upcoming season. Head coach Janelle McDonald expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress, noting, “Really excited about where we are at on bars. I feel like it can be a great event for us and just really working on the consistency of the details right now.”
As the athletes prepare for the January season opener, they are focused on refining their skills, particularly in execution and landings. McDonald remarked on some unexpected performances during the exhibition, stating, “There were a couple of uncharacteristic things that we don’t typically see in practice, people that are really consistent with sticking and having steps.”
The team’s seniors emphasized their commitment to adding routines and events as they strive to learn and grow in their final season. Notably, Jordan Chiles showcased her Prince routine one last time and plans to debut a new routine during the competition season. Chiles reflected on her upcoming performance changes, saying, “I am really excited to do this floor routine… this is more the passionate, confident last era of being a Bruin.”
McDonald highlighted the enthusiasm of the team, mentioning that players like Ciena Alipio and Maddie Anyimi have shown determination throughout the summer to make an impact during preseason. Freshman Ashlee Sullivan, adjusting to collegiate gymnastics, noted the readiness of her teammates, stating, “Like everyone looked so good. The team looked competition ready. Feeding off of that, everyone pushes me to be [the] best I can.”
The Bruins welcome a new cohort of gymnasts this year, including Tiana Sumanasekera, Nola Matthews, Jordis Eichman, Kai Mattei, Ava Callahan, and Sullivan, each bringing unique skills to the lineup.
The 2026 season is set to kick off on January 3, as the Bruins face off against Washington, California, and Oregon State.
