2025-26 NCAA Women’s Power Rankings: Pre-Conferences Edition

As in previous years, SwimSwam’s Power Rankings are somewhere between the CSCAA-style dual meet rankings and a pure prediction of NCAA finish order. SwimSwam’s rankings take into account how a team looks at the moment, while keeping the end of the season in mind through things like a team’s previous trajectory and NCAA scoring potential. These rankings are by nature subjective, and a jumping-off point for discussion. If you disagree with any team’s ranking, feel free to make your case in our comments section.   

James Sutherland, Braden Keith, Robert Gibbs, Madeline Folsom, Anya Pelshaw, and Terin Frodyma contributed to this report.  

The 2025-26 NCAA season is winding down. Plenty of teams have raced their last regular season meet, and there are a handful of “First Chance” Invitationals in the next two weeks, but then, it’s conference championship season.

At the top, Virginia, Stanford, and Texas remain firm in the top three positions, with no signs of slippage. There are distinct groups of teams vying for particular spots in the rankings–the 4th through 7th places in the standings are still being passed around, but by the same four teams that have been there for past rankings.

Indiana rose from 5th to 4th and Louisville climbed from 7th to 5th, pushing Michigan from 4th to 6th. Indiana’s rise comes from the addition of Alex Shackell, Liberty Clark leveling up, and accounting for their diving depth. Meanwhile, Anastasia Gorbenko’s addition has had a massive impact on Louisville’s scoring projections, both individually and on relays.

Elsewhere across the rankings, there was minimal movement, though the rises mostly reflect programs hitting best times that approach or fall within the anticipated NCAA scoring range. Teams moving up doesn’t necessarily indicate struggles from those who dropped slightly, it’s simply a consequence of incremental improvement. Additionally, updated diving projections caused some shuffling, particularly for teams like #18 Miami, #21 Kansas, and #23 Purdue.

The lone newcomer is #22 UCLA, who knocked Arizona State off the list after swimming best times across the board over the past few weeks.

These rankings were heavily informed, though not dictated by, the pre-conferences scoring exercise. The simulation uses each swimmer’s season-best times from their three top events, with diving factored into our ballots separately.

Previous Rankings: 

• Early-season
• Pre-invites
• Post-invites

Honorable Mentions: North Carolina Tar Heels, Arizona State Sun Devils, Washington State Cougars

#25. South Carolina Gamecocks -3 (Previous Rank: 22)

The South Carolina women have been exceptional this season, defeating major teams at mulitple dual meets and I can see their women showing up in a big way at NCAAs. On top of their skill in the 200s of stroke, they have one of the top divers in the NCAA with Sophie Verzyl, who has yet to lose an NCAA diving meet this season and won the womens’ 3 meter at the USA Diving Winter Nationals. – M.F.

#24. Fresno State -1 (Previous Rank: 23)

Graduate transfer Mackenzie Lung is the obvious reason why Fresno State is penciled in for a top 25 finish after they only scored one point at NCAAs in 2025. Last season she scored 29 points, which would’ve tied her for 23rd in the team standings. – J.S.

#23. Purdue Boilermakers -3 (Previous Rank: 20)

Divers Avery Worobel and Daryn Wright continue to excel for the Boilermakers, and both look like strong candidates to make finals at NCAAs. – S.G.

#22. UCLA Bruins — (Previous Rank: HM)

The Bruins haven’t won many dual meets this season, BUT they have looked very good in them. In fact, most of the Bruins’ noteworthy times are from dual meets, not their mid-season invite, including big swims from Rosie Murphy and others in their recent gauntlet against Stanford, Cal, and USC. – B.K.

#21: Kansas Jayhawks +3 (Previous Rank: 24)

As I said in December, this Jayhawks team remains heavily reliant on junior diver Shiyun Lai, who helped carry the team to 25th place at last year’s NCAA Championship meet as their only NCAA qualifier. She’s continued to look incredibly strong this year and appears poised to improve last year’s showing. – S.G.

#20: Auburn Tigers -1 (Previous Rank: 19)

The Tigers’ 10-strong freshman class, along with their transfers, has been swimming well. Among the standouts, Lisa Klevanovich has really thrown herself onto the national radar, posting best times in the 50 and 100 frees at the Wolfpack Elite Invite. Currently ranked 14th in the 50 free, she looks poised to contend for an SEC title and earn a spot in the championship final at NCAAs. On the diving side, Emily Hallifax is going strong after placing 13th in platform last season, which gives the Tigers a reliable source NCAA points. – S.G.

#19: Pittsburgh Panthers -1 (Previous Rank: 18)

The Panthers continue to build off of a solid midseason invite by breaking a couple school records in a dual meet last month. They’re not a slam dunk to finish in the top 20, but the pieces are there if they can peak at NCAAs. – R.G.

#18. Miami (FL) Hurricanes +3 (Previous Rank: 21)

The Tigers bring back NCAA 1-meter champion Chiara Pellacani, a major asset despite being limited to springboards. Sophomore Ashlyn Massey could also be a scoring factor if she can slice a few tenths off her 1:54.83 200 fly personal best. – S.G.

#17: LSU Tigers -2 (Previous Rank: 15)

The Tiger women will lean heavy on the success of their relays, but Sofia Sartori and Giulia Zambelli should be key swimmers to watch at SECs for LSU. – T.F.

#16: Wisconsin Badgers +1 (Previous Rank: 17)

Maggie Wanezek had a strong showing against Northwestern and had another sub 1:50 performance at home to break the pool record. She looks primed to score points come March. – A.P.

#15. Duke Blue Devils +1 (Previous Rank: 16)

Duke is kind of tip-toeing along with a deeper roster than I think many people have noticed. I bet they have more than their currently projected 10 relay points set up for NCAAs. – B.K.

#14. Ohio State Buckeyes -1 (Previous Rank: 13)

The Buckeyes have long relied on their depth to find success at Big Tens, and that figures to continue this season with no definitive stars but several swimmers in position to score some big points. Emma Finlin and Mila Nikanorov form a stong 1-2 punch in the distance events, while Maria Ramos Najji has taken a big step forward on breaststroke and currently leads the conference in the 100. Michigan, Indiana and USC have them outgunned on paper, though, making it a likely 4th-place finish at Big Tens and an uphill battle to crack the top 10 at NCAAs. – J.S.

#13: Georgia Bulldogs +1 (Previous Rank: 14)

Kennedi Dobson is hitting her stride at the right time for this Georgia team, following her 4:32 500 free, she has even further cemented herself a serious threat to multiple podiums. The Swimulator project Dobson to outscore all Georgia relays on her own, and follwing her string of recent swims, that looks increasingly more possible. – T.F.

#12: Alabama Crimson Tide -1 (Previous Rank: 11)

I was a bit higher on Tessa Giele’s arrival last time but still think she has high scoring potential with more adjustment to SCY. – A.P.

#11. USC Trojans +1 (Previous Rank: 12)

Justina Kozan could rise well in a number of events pending a solid showing at Big Tens, with her current performances projecting a 30 point total at NCAAs, as she continues to be a bright spot for the Trojans. – T.F.

#10: Florida Gators — (Previous Rank: 10)

The Gators are riding high heading to SECs after some big wins over LSU, Auburn and FSU in January. Catie Choate is coming into her own and could easily sweep the backstroke events at SECs. Anita Bottazzo is rock solid on breaststroke, but of course there are some holes on freestyle, and therefore, the relays are weaker with the loss of Bella Sims. Florida will have a battle on its hands with Tennessee in the race for 2nd at the conference meet. – J.S.

#9.Tennessee Volunteers — (Previous Rank: 9)

Emily Brown had a big meet against Georgia and I still think that Hirai will be a finalist in the 100 fly at NCAAs. Right now, she sits at 17th. Combined, that fills a huge hole on the butterfly leg(s) of the medley relays for the Volunteers and should send them up the rankings. – A.P.

#8. NC State Wolfpack — (Previous Rank: 8)

Against UVA, NC State was only 0.1s shy of their midseason time in the 200 medley relay. Freshman Eneli Jefimova, who’s been instrumental in the Wolfpack’s medley relay prowess this season, is poised for a great race against Lucy Bell (if she decides swims it) and Anastasia Gorbenko in the 100 breast at ACCs. – R.G.

#7. California Golden Bears -1 (Previous Rank: 6)

Although she didn’t immediately project as a top tier addition, freshman Silje Slynstadli has made an impact in a hurry. She broke the program record in the 100 breast with a 58.21 last month against Stanford, and we have to imagine that she, along with the rest of the Golden Bears, should have more in the tank come championships season. – R.G.

#6: Michigan Wolverines -2 — (Previous Rank: 4)

In a 200 fly field that has been fairly vacated this season, Hannah Bellard’s 1:50.72 from the dual meet against Indiana is now the national leader – by over a second. Remember that Michigan swam at the CSCAA dual meets in season, and we don’t really have any data about how that will impact “mid season” times versus “end of season” times. Michigan is seeded 4th in projected NCAA swimming points – and don’t have an 800 free relay on the books. – B.K.

#5. Louisville Cardinals +2 (Previous Rank: 7)

Everyone knew Anasasia Gorbenko would be huge for the Cardinals, and she has made the NCAA transition look easy. The Louisville women are coming off a major upset of Texas at the Eddie Reese Showdown, and they are gearing up for their first top 5 finish since 2023. – M.F.

#4: Indiana Hoosiers +1 (Previous Rank: 5)

Alex Shackell’s arrival has been the cherry on top to the freshman class that is already so strong, with Liberty Clark leading the way. – A.P. 

#3: Texas Longhorns — (Previous Rank: 3)

The Texas women dropped a dual to Louisville at the end of January, but their top end is good, and they have swimmers in scoring position in almost every individual event. They also have strong diving points, and their sprint freestyle relays will be leagues better than they were last season. – M.F.

#2: Stanford Cardinal — (Previous Rank: 2)

The Cardinal had a monster dual meet against USC a few weeks ago, especially Caroline Bricker. With a new head coach this year, it’s hard to really grasp what their season plan might look like, but best times in January are usually a sign of an impending end-of-season boom or an impending end-of-season bust, and rarely anything in between. – B.K. 

#1. Virginia Cavaliers — (Previous Rank: 1)

While the Cavalier Invite didn’t feature any record-breaking swims, it did reinforce what we already knew — the Cavaliers are rolling deep. Sara Curtis put herself in position to make a third NCAA A-final with a sub-51 100 fly, while swimmers like Nina Jazzy and Sophia Umstead showed themselves to be NCAA-scoring threats…if they even make the roster. – R.G.

Ballots: