The 2026 NCAA women's gymnastics season kicked off with a powerful statement from Olympic medalist Jordan Chiles. Competing for UCLA, Chiles delivered a spectacular all-around performance, scoring a massive 39.725 to claim the top spot. She didn't just win the all-around; she also finished first on all four individual apparatuses, leading her team to a commanding victory.
UCLA won the quad meet with a team total of 196.975, finishing ahead of California, Washington, and Oregon State. For Chiles, this was the perfect start she envisioned after finishing as the runner-up in the 2025 season. She looked confident and in complete control, setting a high bar for the year ahead.
From Competitors to Coaches: A New Sideline Dynamic
However, the most intriguing story of the night unfolded not on the competition floor, but just a few steps away. Watching intently from the sidelines were three very familiar faces: Jade Carey, Haleigh Bryant, and Mya Lauzon. These were the same elite gymnasts who pushed Chiles to her limits throughout the 2025 season. Now, they have all transitioned into coaching roles, raising a compelling question: if they were still competing, would Chiles's dominant opener have been quite so straightforward?
Their presence added a fascinating layer of narrative to the season's beginning. The athletes who were once her closest rivals are now observing, analyzing, and guiding the next generation. This shift marks a significant changing of the guard in collegiate gymnastics.
Where Are Chiles's Former Rivals Now?
Jade Carey, the Olympic gold medalist, has seamlessly moved into her new chapter. After concluding her competitive career at Oregon State, she remained with the program as a Student Assistant Coach. Gymnastics Now captured a moment of her watching the action closely, noting it was the "Same team, different role for Coach Carey." Carey knows exactly what it takes to challenge the best. In the 2025 NCAA Championships semifinal, she scored 39.6250 in the all-around, finishing just ahead of Chiles's 39.5875 in the same session.
Haleigh Bryant, one of LSU's most decorated gymnasts, retired in April 2025 and promptly joined the LSU coaching staff for the 2025–26 season. After watching the season opener, she expressed her joy on social media, posting, "Nights like these are why it was so easy to stay." In the 2025 semifinals, Bryant had posted an all-around score of 39.5625, which was dangerously close to Chiles's performance.
Mya Lauzon, after a stellar career at the University of California, returned to her alma mater in 2026 as an assistant coach. She shared the opening meet scores on Instagram with the caption, "Just the beginning for these bears." Lauzon had proven her mettle by tying for the all-around title at the 2025 ACC Championships with a score of 39.625.
Chiles Proves Her Class Amidst New Pressure
Despite the absence of her direct rivals on the floor, Jordan Chiles's performance was a clear testament to her world-class ability. She has previously shown she can score even higher, having posted a season-high of 39.775 at the 2025 team final. However, the night underscored a new reality. Winning may have different challenges now.
The competition has evolved. While Carey, Bryant, and Lauzon are no longer direct opponents in the arena, their strategic minds are now focused on building teams and athletes who can challenge the throne. For Chiles, the pressure remains, albeit in a different form. She must now dominate against a field that is being coached by the very gymnasts who once stood beside her on the podium. The 2026 season has begun with a spectacular victory, but the sidelines have never been more interesting.
