The NCAA added women’s wrestling as its 91st championship sport, providing another athletics opportunity for female athletes to compete.
Divisions I, II and III approved the addition at the association’s annual convention this week in Nashville, Tennessee.
“Wrestling has come a long way from being a traditionally male-dominated sport. It’s inspiring to see how dedication and perseverance have opened doors for women,” said Lee Roy Smith, executive director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. “With opportunities like their own NCAA wrestling championships, women are now thriving in the sport. Wrestlers serve as incredible role models, and it’s exciting to see young women being empowered both physically and through the educational opportunities wrestling provides.”
Women’s wrestling now advances from the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program to become a national collegiate championship, featuring female athletes from all three divisions competing against one another. The NCAA’s first women’s wrestling championship will be in 2026.
“We are thrilled that women’s wrestling will be an NCAA sport, making it the 91st championship that we host,” NCAA President Charlie Baker said. “We extend a big thank you to everyone who supported this effort and the athletes, coaches and fans for their passion for a fast-growing and exciting sport that brings even more opportunities for women to participate in athletics.”
There were 76 women’s wrestling programs at NCAA schools in 2023-24, with projections pointing to an additional 17 programs in 2024-25. More than 1,200 women wrestlers are competing at NCAA schools today. The sport is also diverse. At least 45% of the student-athletes competing are of diverse or international backgrounds.
“This means so much to women’s wrestling and to women’s sports in general,” said University of Iowa student-athlete wrestler and 2024 Olympic silver medalist Kennedy Blades. “It gives women’s wrestling recognition and shows that it is important, not just around the world, but also in our country. College sports are huge in the United States. This shows how much women’s wrestling is growing. Since I was a little girl, I dreamed about being an NCAA national wrestling champion. It will fulfill so many little girls’ dreams, including mine.”
USA Wrestling, the national governing body for the sport, and organizations such as Wrestle Like a Girl have steadily supported efforts for an NCAA championship in the sport
“USA Wrestling salutes the NCAA leadership for its historic decision to make women’s wrestling its 91st NCAA championships,” said Rich Bender, executive director of USA Wrestling.
“Women’s wrestling has been an Olympic sport since 2004 and is the fastest-growing sport for young women in our nation. We thank each of the NCAA institutions which have already added women’s wrestling for their leadership and vision and invite others to consider providing this opportunity. We celebrate today with all of those within wrestling and college athletics who have worked so hard to make this dream a reality.”
Sally Roberts, chief executive officer and founder of Wrestle Like a Girl, also shared her excitement.
“I am filled with immense pride and gratitude as we celebrate the landmark decision to recognize women’s wrestling as the 91st NCAA championship sport,” Roberts said. “This moment is a testament to the relentless determination, passion and perseverance of countless athletes, coaches and advocates who believed in the transformative power of wrestling for women – our next generation of leaders.”
The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics oversees the Emerging Sports for Women program and worked with the wrestling organizations throughout the process.
“The NCAA’s approval of women’s wrestling as its 91st championship is a groundbreaking achievement that reflects the continued rise and strength of women’s sports,” said Ragean Hill, chair of the committee and executive associate athletics director/senior woman administrator at Charlotte.
“This milestone opens the door to new opportunities for female student-athletes across Divisions I, II and III, showcasing the NCAA’s commitment to fostering equity and growth in collegiate athletics,” Hill said. “The success of this effort is a testament to the incredible collaboration between the wrestling community, institutional leaders and advocates who share a vision of expanding pathways for women to compete and excel. The Committee on Women’s Athletics is thrilled to celebrate this historic moment and look forward to the future impact of women’s wrestling on campuses nationwide.”
The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics made a recommendation in February that NCAA Divisions I, II and III sponsor legislation to move women’s wrestling to championship status. In addition, the NCAA Board of Governors approved $1.7 million in Association-wide funding at its meeting in April to establish the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships.
Before the Committee on Women’s Athletics made its recommendation to move women’s wrestling to championship status, 40 schools had to sponsor the sport at varsity level and meet other competition and participant requirements. Women’s wrestling, which became an emerging sport in 2020, eclipsed the sponsorship minimum in the 2022-23 academic year. A women’s wrestling committee will now be established to work with NCAA staff on the development of the first championship for winter 2026.
Women’s wrestling is the sixth emerging sport to earn NCAA championship status. Since the emerging sports program was established in 1994, based on a recommendation from the NCAA Gender Equity Task Force, five women’s sports have earned NCAA championship status: rowing (1996), ice hockey (2000), water polo (2000), bowling (2003) and beach volleyball (2015). In the 2023-24 academic year, these sports collectively included nearly 14,000 student-athletes, about 6% of the total student-athletes competing in NCAA women’s championship sports, according to the most recent NCAA Sports Sponsorship and Participation Rates data. Women’s wrestling accounted for an additional 1,226 student-athletes in 2023-24.
The emerging sports program continues to thrive. Currently five sports are working to reach championship status: acrobatics and tumbling, equestrian, rugby, stunt and triathlon. Additionally, the NCAA received an application this summer requesting that women’s flag football join the emerging sports program.
Women’s sports and female athletes continue to generate fan and media attention. Hill commented on the rise of women’s sports, equity, and the value to intercollegiate athletics.
“This milestone for women’s wrestling is a declaration that women deserve equitable opportunities to compete, to lead and to thrive,” Hill said. “It’s a step toward gender parity in sports and a powerful reminder that when women are given the platform to rise, they inspire generations to come. Women’s wrestling is not just a sport; it’s a movement that empowers women to see their strength, their value and their limitless potential.”
“On behalf of our NWCA board of directors and our 16,000 high school and college member coaches, we could not be more excited about the NCAA officially adopting women’s wrestling as its next championship sport,” said Mike Moyer, executive director of the National Wrestling Coaches Association. “We are proud to have helped to add so many of the intercollegiate wrestling programs set to compete in the inaugural 2026 NCAA championships and are honored for the privilege to work alongside the NCAA and all other partners in the wrestling ecosystem to continue to grow the sport and provide opportunities at our NCAA institutions across the country.”
