Utah drops out, Kentucky cracks top 3 in Week 7 women's college gymnastics power rankings

The 2024 women's college gymnastics season is flying by, with NQS (maybe?) kicking in and conference championships just a couple of weeks away. Clear leaders have emerged at the top of both the various team and individual standings, but with parity at an all-time high, it’s a veritable free-for-all outside the top three in every category. Even allowing for judging inconsistencies, this is shaping up to be the most competitive postseason we’ve seen in a while.

Teams

1. Oklahoma, 198.300
2. California, 197.400
3. Kentucky, 197.775
4. LSU, 198.300
5. Michigan State, 197.550
6. Florida, 197.925

For the second time this season, we saw a No. 1 vs. No. 2 battle between Oklahoma and California, culminating in a decisive win for the Sooners. Scoring no less than 49.450 in each rotation, Oklahoma won every event over Cal, Arkansas, and Washington—once again proving it’s the team to beat heading into the postseason.

California didn’t post the high 197 we’ve come to expect in 2024, but the return of Mya Lauzon helped the Golden Bears improve upon last week’s near upset to hang on to the second spot over Kentucky, who cruised to an easy home win over visiting BYU thanks to star Raena Worley’s newfound 10-ability spreading beyond just floor (more on that later).

Another lofty home score from LSU matched the Sooners’ for the top total of the weekend as the Tigers continued to showcase their depth. However, to keep themselves in the championship conversation, they’ll need to show that they can replicate those scores on the road. Michigan State also impressed, extending its streak of mid-197s at home.

📊 PAST RANKINGS: Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6

With the likes of Utah, Alabama, and UCLA out of contention this week due to Monday meets, Florida slides into the power rankings after nearly breaking the 198 barrier for the first time this year. The Gators started the season slow but have mitigated that by being the only team left in the country to improve on its score every week thus far, building to peak at the right time.

Honorable Mentions: N.C. State, UW-Oshkosh
The Wolfpack clinched the ACC regular season title over visiting Clemson thanks to a lights-out 197.575 performance, the second-best in the team’s 44-year history. UW-Oshkosh also posted its second-highest total ever thanks to a program-best 48.750 on floor.

All-Around

1. Haleigh Bryant, LSU, 39.700
2. Raena Worley, Kentucky, 39.750
3. Jordan Bowers, Oklahoma, 39.675
4. Sierra Brooks, Michigan, 39.775
5. Leanne Wong, Florida, 39.725
6. Mya Lauzon, California, 39.525

Even though Bryant’s scores have technically declined throughout February, still being at or above 39.7 on an “off” day is a testament to just how great she’s been this year. This was one of the rare weeks in which she didn’t score a 10—unlike Worley, whose first career 10 on bars gave her the top SEC all-around total this week.

Bowers claimed the all-around win at Metroplex, beating a tough field of her Sooner teammates and Lauzon, who returned to competition after resting in week six. The meet wasn’t broadcast or streamed—which is disappointing and utterly baffling given the profile of this meet—so judging by scores alone, it was business as usual for Lauzon and Bowers.

The biggest jump this week came from Brooks, who continues to build as the Wolverines push to get back into the top 10 of the rankings. In a similar position is Wong, who after easing into the all-around this year, has now hit back-to-back 39.725s, positioning Florida for a return to the top five nationally once NQS kicks in.

Honorable Mentions: Emily Shepard, N.C. State
The Wolfpack’s fifth year is making the most of her extra season by smashing records and establishing herself as one of the best all-arounders in the country. She upped her career-best four-event total for the second week in a row with a huge 39.750 performance.

Vault

1. Sage Kellerman, Michigan State, 9.875
2. Haleigh Bryant, LSU, 9.900
3. Makenzie Wilson, Kentucky, 9.850
4. Mya Lauzon, California, 9.900
5. Jordan Bowers, Oklahoma, 9.900
6. Sierra Brooks, Michigan, 9.975

This week was essentially a wash on vault, as most of the big hitters struggled with landings. Bryant’s higher-than-usual block position resulted in a squat and shuffle while being a bit off-kilter in the air causing Wilson to take a step back. Kellerman did get the stick but landed close to one of the directional lines and left her chest down.

We can’t comment on Lauzon’s and Bowers’ Yurchenko one and a half (you know, since we didn’t get to see them), but we can praise Brooks’ vault. Her block and twisting are some of the most dynamic we’ve seen over the last five years, and when she sticks—like she did this weekend—there’s legitimately nothing for the judges to take. Honing in on landings the past few weeks has been the key to her improving all-around totals.

✨ SPECIAL RECORDS: Tap to see which gymnast might break the latest collegiate records

Honorable Mentions: Arianna Patterson | Kentucky
It’s usually Wilson or Worley starring in the Wildcats’ vault lineup, but this week it was Patterson. Her front handspring pike half has been improving week by week, with her scores rising in conjunction.

Bars

1. Jordan Bowers, Oklahoma, 9.975
2. Audrey Davis, Oklahoma, 9.975
3. Raena Worley, Kentucky, 10.000
4. Mara Titarsolej, Missouri, 10.000
5. Emily Lopez, Boise State, 9.950
6. Leanne Wong, Florida, 9.900

Bowers and Davis continue to be the best anchoring duo on any event this season, with their dual 9.975s demonstrating why the top-ranked Sooners haven’t scored under 49.550 this month. Fan videos of Davis’ routine has been circulating the gymternet, and it was one of her best routines to date (which is saying something).

Worley’s improvement on bars was rewarded with the 10 after two near-perfect totals earlier this season, while Titarsolej swung to the first bars 10 in Missouri history after accomplishing the same feat at her former school, LIU.

🤩 SETTING RECORDS: LSU's Haleigh Bryant becomes 14th women's gymnast to record career gym slam

Wong and Lopez are both known for stellar bar work and slide into the power rankings thanks to a steady ramp-up in their scores. Wong followed up last weekend’s 10 with another textbook set. Similarly, Lopez has officially hit her stride, scoring 9.950 in three of her last four routines.

Honorable Mentions: Isabella Minervini, | Towson
She may not be a household name (yet), but Minervini is already a favorite of fantasy gym players after reaching 9.950 in her freshman year. Now in her sophomore season, Minervini’s 9.975 indicates she may be the next mid-major star to reach perfection.

Beam

1. Ragan Smith, Oklahoma, 10.000
2. Faith Torrez, Oklahoma, 9.950
3. Mya Lauzon, California, 9.875
4. Sienna Schreiber, Missouri, 9.900
5. Syd Morris, LIU, 9.925
6. Haleigh Bryant, LSU, 9.950

With the Utah tandem vacating the top spots this week, the Sooners move in as sophomore Torrez set up anchor Smith for her first 10 this season and the sixth of her career. These two rival Utah’s Maile O’Keefe and Abby Paulson for the best beam duo in the NCAA.

After a week off, Lauzon easily slotted back into the power rankings on her standout event. With a tiny shoulder dip after her switch half, Schreiber didn’t bounce back from a fall this week quite as strong as she has in the past, but—with the added pressure of a fall earlier in the lineup—her clutch 9.900 is nothing to scoff at.

🔮 BLAST TO THE PAST: Leotard Trends through the Decades

Morris was known as a beamer during their elite career, and now with a year of collegiate experience under their belt, we’re seeing them shine brighter than ever. Morris has yet to score under 9.900 this season and is definitely one to watch in the postseason. Sitting just behind them at fifth in the national beam rankings is Bryant, who’s seized momentum after clenching her Gym Slam in week six.

Honorable Mentions: Skyla Schulte | Michigan State
The Spartans’ standout received a 9.950 by way of a 9.900/10.0 split from the judges but received full marks from her father.

Floor

1. Raena Worley, Kentucky, 9.975
2. Mya Hooten, Minnesota, 9.975
3. Sierra Brooks, Michigan, 9.975
4. Gabby Wilson, Michigan, 10.000
5. Haleigh Bryant, LSU, 9.925
6. Jocelyn Moore, Missouri, 9.925

Worley seemed poised to follow up her 10 on bars with a third perfect score on floor, as her routine looked pretty darn flawless. However, one of the judges disagreed, so she had to settle for “just” a 9.975. Hooten and Brooks also came within a quarter-tenth of perfection, though Brooks set up fellow Wolverine Wilson for her second 10.0 of the season. The fifth-year duo’s floor work is a major reason why Michigan is still in the 2024 postseason conversation.

Floor stalwarts Bryant and Moore had one iffy landing each, resulting in lower-than-usual 9.925s. Bryant’s double front was slightly short, necessitating a step back, while Moore overpowered her double layout into a sizeable lunge.

Honorable Mentions: Aleah Finnegan | LSU
Finnegan—who’s nursing a wrist injury and training for the 2024 Olympics—has run hot and cold this season but left no room for doubt in a truly exceptional floor routine in front of a sold-out crowd in the PMAC. To quote commentators Bart Conner and Kathy Johnson Clarke: “Not all 10s are created equal, but that, folks, IS a 10… A 10-y 10!”