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Takeaways from NCAA gymnastics regionals: Jordan Chiles, Kailin Chio and much more

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Takeaways from NCAA gymnastics regionals: Jordan Chiles, Kailin Chio and much more


And then there were eight.

After an eventful regular season, conference championships and some ever-so-close regionals action, the field for the upcoming NCAA national gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, has been officially set.

On Saturday, LSU and Stanford advanced out of the Baton Rouge regional, and Florida and Georgia punched their tickets in Tempe. Sunday saw Oklahoma and Arkansas move on in the Lexington regional with UCLA and Minnesota closing out the weekend by clinching the final spots in Corvallis in dramatic fashion. While the specific semifinal sessions have yet to be announced for Fort Worth, the teams advancing from Baton Rouge and Tempe will square off in one semifinal, with the teams from Lexington and Corvallis in the other.

The group of teams remaining — an elite eight, if you will — is filled with perennial contenders, resurgent programs and even a Cinderella-esque squad or two. It also showcases the SEC’s dominance, with five of the eight teams coming from that conference.

So what did we learn from the weekend and who looks poised to hoist the team trophy? Here’s everything you need to know before the semifinal competition gets underway on April 16.

End of an era

Before focusing on the eight teams heading to Texas, it’s worth noting one team that didn’t qualify.

Utah was looking for its astounding 50th consecutive appearance at nationals, but ultimately was edged out by just .125 of a point by second-place Minnesota (197.625) on Sunday in Corvallis. UCLA won the region (197.725).

It had been a challenging season for Utah, but the team arrived at regionals after winning a second straight Big 12 title, hoping it was hitting its stride. Led by a huge night by sophomore Avery Neff, Utah came up just short.

While the streak is over, it’s worth acknowledging just how incredible such a mark was in the sport. And the season isn’t totally over for the Red Rocks. Neff (all-around), Ana Padurariu (beam) and Ella Zirbes (floor) all qualified as individuals.

Start of a new one

While Fort Worth won’t see one of its traditional contenders this year, it will welcome the return of another.

Marking their first NCAA semifinal appearance in seven turbulent years and first for co-head coaches Cecile Canqueteau-Landi and Ryan Roberts, Georgia finished in second place (197.750) in the Tempe regional — and did so without their star junior Lily Smith, who is out for the rest of the season with a broken foot. The team earned its second-highest score on bars (49.525) of the season to open the meet, led by freshman Autumn Reingold’s 9.975, and three GymDogs — Harley Tomlin, Nyla Aquino and CaMarah Williams — earned 9.95 on floor. Williams, a freshman, has been one of the best in the country throughout the year on the event, and is currently ranked second. Can Fort Worth serve as the site of her official breakout to the college gymnastics world?

Canqueteau-Landi, who previously worked with Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles and other elite gymnasts at World Champions Centre, couldn’t hide her emotions after Saturday’s meet.

“People say I’ve done a lot in club. I have, but today I shed a couple of tears because it’s been a lot. It means a lot,” Canqueteau-Landi said. “I’ve said it before — Georgia is that team, and we are back.”

The winner of a record 10 national titles, Georgia will now look to advance past semifinals for the first time in a decade, and earn its first title since 2009.

The top contenders

The four regional champions — LSU, Florida, Oklahoma and UCLA — have been the strongest teams all season and will be the favorites to advance to Saturday’s championship meet, as well as win the trophy.

Top-ranked Oklahoma is the reigning national champion and rolled through the regular season undefeated, notching impressive victories over conference rivals LSU and Florida, and even UCLA at a season-opening quad meet. The Sooners earned the highest score in regional competition (198.350) and rank in the top four in every event. Led by senior Faith Torrez, who earned a perfect 10.0 on beam on Sunday, and sophomores Addison Fatta and Lily Pederson, Oklahoma will look to capture its eighth title in 12 seasons in Fort Worth — and further cement its dynasty status.

No. 3 seed Florida, however, has other plans, and seems to be peaking at exactly the right time. The Gators won the SEC championship title last month, behind a lights-out final rotation on bars and a razor-thin final 0.025 edge over Oklahoma. Florida furthered that momentum over the weekend with a 198.05 — becoming the first program in the country to achieve a score of 198 or better for five straight meets this season. With unparalleled depth, including Selena Harris-Miranda, Skye Blakely, Kayla DiCello and eMjae Frazier, Florida could be in position to win its first team title since 2015.

As Harris-Miranda told ESPN heading into regionals, “I want to win. I know not everyone wants to say it but we have the correct people on the team to win and we have the mentality for it, we have the swag for it. It’s ours. We just got to keep our heads down, keep going. That’s our goal.”

No. 2 seed LSU finished in third place at the SEC championships and won the NCAA title in 2024. The Tigers got to compete at home one last time over the weekend — and gave fans something to remember. Buoyed by perfect 10.0 scores from sophomores Kailin Chio (vault) and Kaliya Lincoln (floor), and earning at least a share of all the night’s event titles, the Tigers earned a final score of 197.825 — 0.6 better than second-place Stanford. While star junior Konnor McClain injured her arm on bars on Saturday, and her status for the semifinals has not yet been confirmed, Chio is the top-ranked all-arounder in the nation (and the favorite to win the individual title) and has shown she will do whatever it takes to help carry the team.

And UCLA, the Big Ten champions, will look to build on their 2025 runner-up finish. The No. 4 seeded Bruins held off Minnesota and Utah on Sunday in a nail-biter. As she’s done so often this season, senior Jordan Chiles anchored on floor, in the team’s final rotation, and earned a perfect score to capture the victory and punch the team’s ticket to Fort Worth. Competing just moments after the school’s women’s basketball team won its first-ever NCAA title, and even dropping some basketball-themed celebrations on the night, UCLA will now try to bring yet another trophy back to Westwood, and earn the first for the program since 2018. Chiles, who has earned two individual event titles on bars and one on floor during her career, will look to close out her storied collegiate career with more hardware, for herself and the team.

The Cinderellas

Stanford, Arkansas and Minnesota all finished in second place in their respective regions. While none of them are considered a title favorite, each squad has what it takes to play spoiler and advance to Saturday’s finals.

Stanford, the No. 7 seed, was in fourth place at the halfway mark of the regional final in Baton Rouge before a strong rotation on floor and a clutch final rotation on vault surged them ahead. Freshman Ana Barbosu, the 2024 Olympic bronze medalist, earned her second 9.95 on floor in three days, and senior Taralyn Nguyen earned the same score on vault to give the Cardinal a .075 edge over third-place Clemson.

Arkansas, the No. 9 seed, took control of second place after the first rotation on floor in Lexington — and managed to hold on the rest of the competition. With just 0.025 of a point separating the Gymbacks from third-place Missouri entering the final event, Morgan Price and Joscelyn Roberson — two of the team’s most consistent members all season long — came up big yet again with 9.90 and 9.95, respectively, to close it out and clinch their berth. It marks Arkansas’ 10th-ever trip to nationals and second under head coach Jordyn Wieber. The Gymbacks finished in seventh place in their last appearance in 2024 but certainly could do even better this time.

And No. 13 seed Minnesota, having already spoiled Utah’s historic run, has proven it can step up when it matters most. Like Arkansas, the Gophers ended the night on beam and needed a strong showing to advance. Competing last, junior Jordyn Lyden tied her career high on the event with a 9.95 to seal the second-place finish and bring the team back to nationals for the first time since 2022.

“It’s so awesome, I can’t even put it into words,” Lyden said after the meet.

The individuals

One of unique aspects of the NCAA semifinals is the inclusion of individual gymnasts rotating with teams. Often the teams will incorporate the gymnasts as one of their own and cheer loudly for them, and sometimes even learn their choreography on floor and beam.

This year will see a talented group representing their schools, all looking to end the season on a high note. In addition to Utah’s Neff, Michigan State’s Nikki Smith and Ohio State’s Tory Vetter will be competing in the all-around, as will Air Force’s Maggie Slife. Slife, the Mountain West Gymnast of the Year and the No. 7-ranked all-arounder in the nation, is the school’s first gymnast to ever qualify for the event.

Gwen Fink (North Carolina), Sage Kellerman (Michigan State), Cameron Smith (Ohio State) and Shyla Bhatia (Denver) qualified on vault. Kellerman, Sophia Diaz (Michigan), Hannah Horton (Missouri) and Aurelie Tran (Iowa) will compete on bars. Utah’s Padurariu is joined by Carly Bauman (Michigan), Abigayle Martin (Arizona) and Delaynee Rodriguez (Kentucky) on beam, and Utah’s Zirbes, Brie Clark (Clemson), Gabi Ortiz (Michigan State) and Creslyn Brose (Kentucky) qualified on floor. With Clemson having just completed its third competitive season, Clark will be the first gymnast in school history to compete at nationals.





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Australia cricket split over BBL future after selloff plan stalls

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May 24, 2026

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Australia cricket split over BBL future after selloff plan stalls


Perth Scorchers players celebrate their win after the Big Bash League T20 final between Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers at the Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia, on January 25, 2026. (AFP)

SYDNEY: As Twenty20 cricket competitions explode around the world, Australia’s Big Bash League is struggling to chart a vision for the future, after plans to privatise its franchises stalled.

Cricket Australia chief Todd Greenberg is adamant that outside investment is necessary to shore up the game’s financial future and keep pace with a boom in other well-funded leagues played in a similar time slot.

They include the UAE’s ILT20, South Africa’s SA20, and New Zealand’s privately-backed NZ20 scheduled to start in December 2027, all bidding for the best local and overseas players.

“If those salary caps (of other leagues) are significantly higher than ours over the coming years, and players can earn more in those areas, then players will follow those. That’s a real risk to us,” Greenberg told local media.

“I want to make sure that for Australian cricket, our ambition is to have a league that runs at the key part of the year for us, which is the December-January window, and it’s the best T20 league in the world at that moment in time.

“To do that, we have to have a significant amount of money in our salary caps to attract not only the best players from overseas, but to retain and attract our own best players.”

He added: “The concept of bringing private capital to cricket is inevitable at some point.”

While not a direct competitor as it runs in a different window, the benchmark Indian Premier League has seen massive success thanks to wealthy benefactors, with England’s The Hundred also on a roll after an influx of private capital.

But it is a thorny issue in Australia with an initial proposal to sell stakes in each of BBL’s eight teams stalling last month amid concerns about a loss of control for the game’s local custodians.

While the Victorian, Western Australian and Tasmanian cricket associations voiced support and South Australia said it was open to the idea, New South Wales and Queensland rejected the move.

Queensland Cricket, which controls the Brisbane Heat, said it was worried about player payments skyrocketing to unsustainable levels, and that private owners may not be as invested in the grassroots game.

Cricket NSW, which operates the Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder, was similarly concerned that it could be detrimental to how the sport is governed and how local players are produced.

‘Sugar hit’

There are also fears about an Indian takeover, with the most likely buyers seen as the rich IPL team owners who have invested in other short-form competitions around the globe.

Former Australian captain Greg Chappell is in the “No” camp, arguing that the BBL belongs to the states and communities that have built it into a successful and well-attended product.

While acknowledging the commercial realities, he said selling it off was not the answer.

“The moment you introduce private ownership at scale, you introduce a set of priorities that may not always align with the long-term health of the game,” he wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald.

“Private investors, however well-intentioned, answer to shareholders, not to Australian cricket.”

Andrew Jones, a former head of strategy at Cricket Australia who was instrumental in the launch of the BBL, is similarly unconvinced.

“A one-off sale is a sugar hit, not a solution,” he said in The Australian newspaper, arguing that revenues can be better grown through sponsorships, wagering, ticketing, and more focus on commercialising the women’s game.

Despite scepticism, Greenberg remains confident and is now eyeing a hybrid ownership model.

This would allow the BBL franchises keen to sell stakes to do so while allowing those against to maintain complete ownership.

“If we end up not going together at the same time, can we still extract the same level of revenue, and can we extract the same level of value?” he said.

“I think we can, but I’ve got to do the work to satisfy a recommendation that would ultimately go to the members and our board.”





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Knicks take commanding 3-0 lead over Cavaliers in Eastern Conference Finals

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May 24, 2026

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Knicks take commanding 3-0 lead over Cavaliers in Eastern Conference Finals


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The New York Knicks took a commanding 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday as the franchise eyes its first NBA Finals berth since 1999.

Jalen Brunson scored 30 points to lead New York to a 121-108 win over Cleveland, while Mikal Bridges added 22 as the Knicks never trailed in Game 3.

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The New York Knicks bench reacts during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game three of the Eastern Conference finals at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 23, 2026. (David Richard/Imagn Images)

New York is the seventh team in NBA history to win at least 10 straight during a postseason run. The last team to do it was the Boston Celtics, who also went on a 10-game run on their way to the 2024 title.

All but one of the Knicks’ wins have been by double digits, with an average margin of victory of 22.5 points.

Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell finished with 23 points in 38 minutes, while teammate James Harden added 21. Cleveland shot 12 of 41 from 3-point range and 12 of 19 from the foul line.

Donovan Mitchell dribbles during a game

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives to the basket against  New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet (44) during the first quarter in Game Three of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 23, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Cleveland rallied and tied it at 50-all on a jumper by Harden before the Knicks countered with a 10-1 run. They went into halftime with a 60-54 advantage.

THUNDER ERASE 15-POINT DEFICIT TO TAKE SERIES LEAD OVER SPURS AS VICTOR WEMBANYAMA’S 26 POINTS FALL SHORT

Music superstar Taylor Swift was courtside for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday night alongside fiancé and Ohio native Travis Kelce.

Swift and Kelce, who recently signed a three-year, $54 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, took their seats in Rocket Arena shortly before the opening tip.

Singer Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce seated at Rocket Arena during NBA Eastern Conference Finals game.

Singer Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce attend Game Three of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 23, 2026. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

With the Cavs trailing 91-82 at the end of the third quarter, Kelce and Swift were shown on the arena’s giant scoreboard. Fans cheered wildly as Kelce showed off his team cap and wine-and-gold shirt.

Game 4 is set for Monday night at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. The series will return to Madison Square Garden for Game 5 on Wednesday, if necessary.

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Meanwhile, in the Western Conference, the San Antonio Spurs will host the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 on Sunday night. Oklahoma City enters the matchup with a 2-1 series lead.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.





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NASCAR’s Truck Series and O’Reilly Autoparts Series honor Kyle Busch with moments of silence at Charlotte

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May 24, 2026

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NASCAR’s Truck Series and O’Reilly Autoparts Series honor Kyle Busch with moments of silence at Charlotte


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The NASCAR world is paying tribute to Kyle Busch this weekend, and that includes some classy ones from two series in which the late driver had a lot of success.

While Busch — who passed away Thursday after “severe pneumonia [that] progressed into sepsis” — had been a full-time driver in NASCAR’s top series, the Cup Series, for more than 20 years, he still competed occasionally in both the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and the Craftsman Truck Series.

He was especially known for his dominance in the Truck Series, winning 69 of his 184 races, and at one point owned a team. In fact, the final win of Busch’s career came just under a week before his death in a Truck Series race at Dover.

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Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 7 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, is introduced before the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 1, 2026. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)

On Friday, the Truck Series was in Charlotte as part of the Coca-Cola 600 weekend for a race that Busch was supposed to take part in.

NASCAR, RACING WORLD REACTS TO KYLE BUSCH’S SHOCKING DEATH AT 41: ‘CANNOT COMPREHEND THIS NEWS’

Corey Day was in the No. 7 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports, the truck in which Busch took his final win, and it was set to start on pole after Friday’s qualifying was rained out.

Kyle Busch

Kyle Busch celebrates the final win of his NASCAR career at Dover Motor Speedway. (Photo by David Hahn/Icon Sportswire)

Before the race was set to begin on Friday evening, teams and fans held a moment of silence for Busch.

Unfortunately, the race never got underway and was postponed until Saturday morning and then again to Saturday night.

The O’Reilly Autoparts Series, which Busch raced in many times and won many times during his career, also took a moment to remember him before their race at Charlotte on Saturday.

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That race was also suspended due to rain.

There will be some heavy hearts on Sunday when the Coca-Cola 600, the NASCAR Cup Series’ longest race of the year, gets started at 6 p.m. ET.

Matthew Reigle is a writer for OutKick.



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