Who’s Back? A Look at the Returning NCAA Finalists for the 2026-27 Season (Women)
With the collegiate dual-meet season set to get underway, it seemed like an appropriate time to glance at the NCAA women’s landscape for the upcoming campaign. Of the 104 finalists in the 13 individual events contested at last year’s NCAA Championships, a staggering 79 are returning for the 2026-27 season. More, eight events feature returning championships, led by Virginia’s Claire Curzan in the 100-meter backstroke and 200 backstroke.
Other returning titlists include Virginia’s Anna Moesch (200 freestyle), Cal’s Claire Weinstein (500 freestyle), Texas’ Jillian Cox (1650 freestyle), North Carolina State’s Eneli Jefimova (100 breaststroke), Texas’ Campbell Stoll (200 butterfly) and Michigan’s Bella Sims (400 individual medley).
Virginia is unquestionably the favorite to capture a seventh consecutive title in March, when the NCAA Championships unfold at the University of Texas’ Jamail Swim Center. Here is a look at the championship finalists from last year’s NCAA Championships who are back in action for the 2026-27 season.
NCAA Championships Results (2026)
50 Freestyle
2. Sara Curtis (Virginia) – 20.74
3. Camille Spink (Tennessee) – 20.98
4. Eva Okaro (Texas) – 21.05
6. Liberty Clark (Indiana) – 21.25
8. Anna Moesch (Virginia) – 21.37
100 Freestyle
2. Anna Moesch (Virginia) – 45.54
3. Sara Curtis (Virginia) – 45.77
4. Liberty Clark (Indiana) – 46.11
5. Camille Spink (Tennessee) – 46.28
6. Mary-Ambre Moluh (Cal) – 46.30
7. Cadence Vincent (Alabama) – 46.87
200 Freestyle
1. Anna Moesch (Virginia) – 1:39.23
2. Liberty Clark (Indiana) – 1:39.88
3. Nikolett Padar (Texas) – 1:40.78
4. Minna Abraham (USC) – 1:41.66
5. Madi Mintenko (Virginia) – 1:41.87
6. Camille Spink (Tennessee) – 1:41.72
7. Mia West (Cal) – 1:42.00
8. Claire Weinstein (Cal) – 1:42.59
500 Freestyle
1. Claire Weinstein (Cal) – 4:30.09
2. Jillian Cox (Texas) – 4:31.56
3. Kennedi Dobson (Georgia) – 4:32.24
4. Ella Jansen (Tennessee) – 4:32.82
5. Julie Brousseau (Florida) – 4:34.63
6. Cavan Gormsen (Virginia) – 4:35.11
7. Hannah Bellard (Michigan) – 4:35.80
8. Madi Mintenko (Virginia) – 4:36.68
1650 Freestyle
1. Jillian Cox (Texas) – 15:32.26
2. Claire Weinstein (Cal) – 15:36.52
3. Katie Grimes (Virginia) – 15:42.65
5. Mila Nikanorov (Ohio St.) – 15:46.48
6. Kennedi Dobson (Georgia) – 15:46.97
7. Thilda Haell (Louisville) – 15:51.82
8. Kate Hurst (Texas) – 15:53.09
100 Backstroke
1. Claire Curzan (Virginia) – 48.24
2. Bella Sims (Michigan) – 49.62
2. Maggie Wanezek (Wisconsin) – 49.62
4. Erika Pelaez (N.C. State) – 49.95
4. Mary-Ambre Moluh (Cal) – 49.95
6. Leah Shackley (N.C. State) – 49.98
200 Backstroke
1. Claire Curzan (Virginia) – 1:46.10
2. Maggie Wanezek (Wisconsin) – 1:47.73
3. Erika Pelaez (N.C. State) – 1:49.08
5. Bella Sims (Michigan) – 1:49.38
6. Teagan O’Dell (Cal) – 1:49.70**
7. Leah Shackley (N.C. State) – 1:49.74
8. Miranda Grana (Indiana) – 1:50.71
**Transferred to Virginia
100 Breaststroke
1. Eneli Jefimova (N.C. State) – 56.30
2. McKenzie Siroky (Tennessee) – 57.00
2. Anita Bottazzo (Florida) – 57.00**
4. Anastasia Gorbenko (Louisville) – 57.56
5. Piper Enge (Texas) – 57.76
6. Maria Ramos Najji (Ohio State) – 57.99
**Transferred to Indiana
200 Breaststroke
3. Anastasia Gorbenko (Louisville) – 2:05.24
6. Grace Rabb (Florida) – 2:06.85
7. Anita Bottazzo (Florida) – 2:07.13**
**Transferred to Indiana
100 Butterfly
2. Claire Curzan (Virginia) – 48.55
3. Alex Shackell (Indiana) – 49.82
5. Annie Jia (Cal) – 50.34
6. Mizuki Hirai (Tennessee) – 50.56
7. Campbell Stoll (Texas) – 50.61
8. Miranda Grana (Indiana) – 51.11
200 Butterfly
1. Campbell Stoll (Texas) – 1:50.26
2. Alex Shackell (Indiana) – 1:50.40
3. Hannah Bellard (Michigan) – 1:51.17
4. Tess Howley (Virginia) – 1:51.69
5. Caroline Bricker (Stanford) – 1:52.10
6. Emily Brown (Tennessee) – 1:52.13
7. Ella Jansen (Tennessee) – 1:52.35
200 Individual Medley
2. Teagan O’Dell (Cal) – 1:52.76
3. Mia West (Cal) – 1:52.96
4. Anastasia Gorbenko (Louisville) – 1:52.98
5. Campbell Chase (Texas) – 1:53.48
7. Leah Hayes (Virginia) – 1:53.56
**Transferred to Virginia
400 Individual Medley
1. Bella Sims (Michigan) – 3:58.08
3. Teagan O’Dell (Cal) – 3:59.43**
4. Ella Jansen (Tennessee) – 3:59.59
5. Katie Grimes (Virginia) – 4:00.56
6. Caroline Bricker (Stanford) – 4:02.23
**Transferred to Virginia