Oklahoma Sooners Win Seventh NCAA Gymnastics Title with Free-Spirited Performance
The Oklahoma Sooners women’s gymnastics team closed the book on one of the most emotionally complex chapters in program history by capturing the 2025 NCAA Championship in Fort Worth.
One year after a shocking semifinal stumble derailed what looked like a historic season, Oklahoma delivered a composed, confident, and ultimately dominant performance when it mattered most.
The title wasn’t just another trophy for a dynasty program. It became a statement about resilience, growth, and the power of competing freely under pressure.
Oklahoma Reclaims the Throne on College Gymnastics’ Biggest Stage
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At Dickies Arena, Oklahoma posted a winning score of 198.0125. They outpaced UCLA, Missouri, and Utah to secure the program’s seventh national championship and its third title in four seasons.
For a team that spent an entire year hearing reminders of what went wrong in 2024, this championship felt less like redemption and more like confirmation of who the Sooners have always been.
The full recap of the championship meet, including detailed event scores and athlete reactions, was reported by The Oklahoman’s coverage of Oklahoma’s NCAA gymnastics championship.
The performance showcased not just technical excellence, but a mental shift that defined the Sooners’ 2025 campaign.
A Championship Built on Freedom, Not Fear
Head coach K.J. Kindler emphasized a simple but powerful message heading into the finals: compete with freedom.
After sensing tightness during the semifinals, Kindler wanted her athletes to let go of expectations and perform with joy. That approach paid off right away, starting with a blistering balance beam rotation that set the tone for the entire meet.
Four consecutive beam scores of 9.9 or higher ignited Oklahoma’s momentum. What had been a point of vulnerability just two days earlier became the emotional spark that separated the Sooners from the rest of the field.
Balance Beam: From Liability to Launchpad
The balance beam really became the defining storyline of Oklahoma’s championship night.
In Thursday’s semifinal, freshman Lily Pederson slipped for a rare 9.275, a score well below her season standard. Instead of unraveling, Pederson responded with what her coach calls angry beam—a sharper, more aggressive approach that let her focus on execution, not circumstance.
Lily Pederson’s Bounce-Back Moment
Pederson delivered a confident routine in the finals, sticking her landing and letting out visible emotion as she sprinted toward Kindler in celebration.
That moment really summed up Oklahoma’s night: intensity channeled productively, pressure transformed into fuel.
Her performance stabilized the rotation and showed the team’s ability to confront adversity head-on. Kindler called Pederson’s response the biggest moment of the night—not just for the score, but for what it meant mentally.
Veteran Leadership Sets the Emotional Standard
Senior leadership played a huge role in Oklahoma’s championship run. With the weight of last season lingering, athletes like Jordan Bowers and Audrey Davis helped reset the emotional temperature, reminding younger gymnasts that the moment didn’t have to be overwhelming.
Bowers emphasized unity, noting that the Sooners succeeded by doing it for one another. You could see that mindset in every rotation, from warmups through the final salute.
Audrey Davis Ends Her Career in Style
Davis delivered one of the most meaningful performances of the night. She closed out her collegiate career with scores of 9.9 on beam, 9.8875 on floor, and 9.925 on bars.
Beyond the numbers, her legacy stands out for consistency: 267 consecutive hit routines without a fall since her freshman season.
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She admitted she competed too tightly in the semifinals. In the finals, Davis embraced a more joyful, present mindset, and that emotional release translated directly into clean execution and calm leadership when Oklahoma needed it most.
Event-by-Event Excellence Seals the Title
While beam provided the spark, Oklahoma’s championship came from balanced dominance across all four events.
Each rotation reinforced the Sooners’ advantage and widened the gap over a talented UCLA squad.
- Beam: 49.6125
- Floor: 49.5875
- Vault: 49.4375
- Bars: 49.3750
Floor and Vault Deliver When Pressure Peaks
On floor exercise, Oklahoma posted four scores of 9.9 or better. Faith Torrez led the way with an outstanding 9.9625.
The energy carried right into vault, an event that had challenged the Sooners throughout the season. Even with lower vault scoring across the championships, Oklahoma found critical stuck landings.
Torrez and Addison Fatta delivered back-to-back momentum builders. That extended the lead heading into the final rotation and pretty much erased any lingering doubt.
A Dynasty Defined by Growth and Perspective
This championship wasn’t about perfection or erasing the past. Oklahoma lost twice to LSU during the regular season and entered nationals without the aura of invincibility that surrounded the 2024 squad.
The Sooners showed up with perspective, having learned how quickly dominance can vanish. Kindler saw the season as a lesson in resilience, not redemption. Failure, she emphasized, is just part of growth, and the true measure of a program is how it responds.
Why This Title Matters More Than Most
For a program with seven national championships, it’s easy to think this one’s just another banner. But honestly, it might be the most meaningful of them all.
This title validated a coaching philosophy built on trust and emotional intelligence. It also rewarded seniors who still had unfinished business.
Plus, it brought a new generation of Sooners into the world of championship expectations. Oklahoma’s gymnastics dynasty isn’t just about records—it’s about adapting and growing.
In Fort Worth, the Sooners did more than win. They grew, they healed, and they reminded everyone in college gymnastics why they’re still the standard.