The NCAA women’s swimming and diving championships return in 2026, bringing with them a familiar question: Can anyone catch Virginia?
Well, the Cavaliers are chasing another championship, and the Virginia women’s team is the favorite to win a sixth straight NCAA team title. The win would set a new record in Division I girls swimming and diving.
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Even after the departure of a cornerstone of the program, the Cavaliers have reloaded, winning a total of 48 NCAA titles. Virginia is loaded for 2026 and the team looks as strong as ever in 2026.
Four days of swimming and diving competition kicked off today at the McCauley Aquatic Center in Atlanta, Georgia, with events including the 1,650-yard freestyle, 200-yard medley relay and 800-yard freestyle relay.
Virginia is favorite to win sixth straight title
All eyes are once again on the five-time defending champion Hoos. The University of Virginia women’s swimming and diving team has built a dynasty and shows no signs of slowing down. Head coach Todd DeSorbo has built a team filled with elite depth and versatility.
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Despite being beaten by Louisville in the ACC’s 200-yard medley relay, he remains the favorite to win all five relays at the NCAA Championships. Virginia will once again be the team to beat.
Another championship would also move the program past Auburn into sole possession of fourth place on the all-time championship list.
No. 2 Stanford, ACC Tournament runner-up and No. 3 Texas have reintroduced top recruiting classes and international talent. The two teams will strive to return to the top three after finishing second and third in 2025.
Fourth-ranked Michigan State is having a fantastic season and will try to get back into the top four after finishing ninth a year ago.
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No. 5 California, No. 6 Tennessee, No. 6 Indiana and No. 8 Louisville will compete as teams in the battle for the top five spots.
Additionally, flopping can prove decisive in these close battles, as scores on three boards can often separate teams in tight championship battles.
surveillance star
The 2026 NCAA women’s tournament will be defined across the board by star power. Olympians, world medalists and NCAA breakout performers headline this year’s competition.
In the middle are Torri Huske, Claire Curzan and Bella Sims. These three are all-around standouts. Each brings international experience and the ability to compete for NCAA championships in multiple events. Husker, Curzine and Sims also played huge roles on the relays at Stanford, Virginia and Michigan.
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Husker will compete in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle events as well as the 100-yard butterfly. Corzine, who broke the NCAA 200-yard backstroke record at the ACC Championships, will compete in the 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke events as well as the 100-yard butterfly. Sims also competed in the 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke events in preparation for a duel with Curzine. Her third event will be the 400-yard IM, where she is the top seed.
The sprint freestyle event will be focused on by Husker, Tennessee junior Camille Spink and Virginia freshman Sarah Curtis. Spink swept the 50-yard, 100-yard and 200-yard freestyle events at the SEC Championships, while Sarah Curtis added explosive top-end speed that made her a contender in both sprint events.
The long freestyle event may further showcase Jillian Cox’s dominance. The Texas sophomore has the ability to burn out in games with 500 and 1,650 yards.
Anna Moesch is a name to watch in the 100 and 200 yard freestyle events. She had a breakout season at Virginia and was just the fourth woman in history to break 1:40 in the 200-yard freestyle. She will chase the legendary NCAA record of 1 minute, 39.10 seconds set in 2015.
The 200 yard butterfly is probably one of the most exciting events of the meet. Michigan State junior Hannah Bellard, Texas State junior Campbell Stoll and Indiana State freshman Alex Shackell will participate in the event. Berard and Shakur finished first and second at the Big Ten Championships, and Stoll won the SEC championship. All three swimmers had seed times faster than 1:52 at times, with seed times less than four-tenths of a second apart.
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In breaststroke, the focus turns to Stanford’s Lucy Bell and North Carolina State’s Enelly Jefimova. Jeffimova, who has already established herself on the international stage, holds the fastest time in this year’s NCAA 100-yard breaststroke, while Bell will be the favorite in the 200-yard breaststroke event.
2026 NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships When and Where
Dates: Wednesday, March 18 to Saturday, March 21
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Location: McCauley Aquatic Center, Atlanta, Georgia
this 2026 NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships It will start on Wednesday, March 18th and end on Saturday, March 21st.
This year’s competition will be held at the McCauley Aquatic Center in Atlanta, Georgia, which was originally built for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Sessions will be live streamed throughout the week .
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Event schedule
Wednesday 18th March |
Preliminaries: 10:00 am ET, Finals 6:00 pm ET
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1,650 yard freestyle (all but top eight seeds in preliminaries)
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200-yard medley relay (all but top eight seeds in preliminary round)
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800-yard freestyle relay (all but the top eight seeds in preliminaries)
Thursday, March 19 |
Preliminaries: 10:00 am ET, Finals 6:00 pm ET
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400 yard individual medley
Friday March 20 |
Preliminaries: 10:00 am ET, Finals 6:00 pm ET
Saturday 21st March |
Preliminaries: 10:00 am ET, Finals 6:00 pm ET
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200 yard individual medley
