The Minnesota Golden Gophers gymnastics team is back on the national stage, ready to embrace their underdog role once more. For the first time since 2022, they have punched their ticket to the NCAA National Semifinals this Thursday night in Fort Worth, Texas, and they are no strangers to defying expectations.
Entering as the lowest-seeded team in the eight-team field, the #13 Gophers have already proven they thrive in this position. Just last week at the Corvallis Regional Final, they pulled off stunning upsets over #5 Alabama and #12 Utah, showcasing the rising power of the Big Ten alongside #4 UCLA. This team doesn't just accept the underdog label—they relish the chance to shock the gymnastics world again.
Their journey to Fort Worth caps an impressive 2026 campaign. With a record of 25-8 (7-2 in the Big Ten), the Gophers finished second in the conference regular season, took third at the Big Ten Championships, and posted a stellar 13-6 record against top-25 opponents. Their second-place finish at regionals, scoring a 197.625 behind UCLA, was the final step in securing this coveted national berth.
The path to the Final Four, however, is a formidable one. On Thursday night, Minnesota will face a powerhouse semifinal group featuring #1 Oklahoma, #4 UCLA, and #9 Arkansas, with only the top two teams advancing to Saturday's championship. The competition will be fierce, with individual event national titles also on the line that evening. Gopher athletes like senior Brooklyn Rowray, who won the regional beam title with a 9.925, will be in the hunt for those individual crowns.
Leading the charge for Minnesota is a compelling mix of seasoned veterans and impactful newcomers. Rowray has been a rock on the beam, scoring 9.925 or higher in six of her last seven routines. Alongside her, junior Emma Slevin, in her first year with the program, brings fresh talent to the lineup. Together, this resilient squad is prepared to leave everything on the floor in Texas, aiming to turn their underdog story into a national championship dream.