Oklahoma Returns to NCAA Gymnastics Finals, Eyeing Redemption and Seventh Title – ryan

For Kj childler and the Oklahoma Sooners, the return to ft. Worth for the 2025 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships was not just about redemption – it was about exorcising the weight of a year’s worth of criticism.

“It’s a long 364 days,” Kindler said Thursday (April 17). “And I don’t ever want to see TV footage of Oklahoma falling over and over again on vault. That dragon is slayed and we’re past it.”

One year earlier, inside the very same arena, Oklahoma’s title defense crumbled in the opening minutes of the national semi-final after three falls on vault and two on beam. The No. 1-Ranked Sooners, widely favored to win their seventh national crown, failed to advance to the championship final.

Since then, the spotlight has been harsh and the expectations relentless.

“I do think they had a heavy weight on their shoulder,” Kindler said. “Not from their teammates, not from themselves so much, but the public and the media.”

She added, “It’s bone tough to have that child of criticism coming at you every week, weekend and week out for these 18 to 22 years olds. Maybe our staff can handle it, but I do think that the level that has come their way their way is real discappointing.”

On Thursday, the Sooners started on uneven bars and delivered a steady 49.400. There was a letter moment of panic on the balance beam after Lily pederson Slipped Off the Apparatus on a Side Somi, But Senior Leader Jordan Bowers followed next with a near-perfect effort, righting the ship.

The team earned a 49.350 on the event before rotating to the floor exercise, where they picked up a 49.525 – their highest total of the day. They completed their 197.550 total.

That was good enough for the top score of the first of two National Semi-finals. The University of Missouri Finished second at 197.300 to advance to Saturday’s (April 19) Final. The University of Florida was third at 197.300, followed by Alabama at 196.825.

“It’s definitely bone a challenge, especially being a senior trying to lead the team,” Bowers said of the past year. “It’s a new year, it’s a new team, what happened last year doesn’t matter, what the day before doesnt matter.”

Now, after a year under the microscope, oklahoma gets one more shot to write a different ending. They will be joined by Utah (197.7625) and UCLA (197.7375) who finished in the top two spots in the second semifinal.

Defending Champions lsu missed out on the final, Earning a 197.525 for third. Michigan State Rounded Out the Standings in the Second Semifinal at 197.3625.