2025 Women’s Division I NCAA Championships: Day 4 Prelims Live Recap

2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships

• March 19-22, 2025
• Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatics Center — Federal Way, Washington
• Short Course Yards (25 yards)
• Start Times: Prelims: 10 AM ׀ Finals: 6 PM (Pacific Daylight Time)
• Meet Central
• Official Psych Sheets
• SwimSwam Preview Index
• Live Results
• Live Stream
• Live Recaps:
  • Prelims: Day 2 | Day 3
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 

Saturday Prelims Heat Sheets

Event Lineup

• 200 backstroke
• 100 freestyle
• 200 breaststroke
• 200 butterfly

It’s here already: the final day of the 2025 Women’s DI NCAA Championships. It’s been an incredible week of racing in Federal Way, and we’re in for even more excitement today. Virginia looks well on their way to a 5th consecutive NCAA title, while Texas and Stanford are battling it out for 2nd, with Indiana lurking in 4th.

On the schedule for today we have Gretchen Walsh in the 100 free, where she’s the fastest swimmer in history by a wide margin. Walsh shattered the record books last year when she went 44.83 to win the event, and we’ll see what she has in store for us today.

Yet another NCAA record holder, Claire Curzan, will be looking for victory in the 200 back. Curzan set the NCAA record in the event at the ACC Championships last month, swimming a 1:46.87, which also stands as the American and US Open record. While Curzan is certainly the favorite heading into today, it won’t be easy, as she has defending champion Phoebe Bacon to deal with, along with Bella Sims, who she raced to a near tie in the 100 back twice yesterday.

The 200 fly should be one of the most exciting races of the whole meet. Alex Walsh holds the NCAA record at 1:49.16, which she swam at last year’s ACC Championships. Walsh then skipped the event at NCAAs last year, instead racing the 200 breast, which she won. She’s back at it this year in the 200 fly, but it looks like she’s going to be pushed to the brink. Texas’ Emma Sticklen went 1:49.17 at the SEC Championships last month, just 0.01 off Walsh’s record, and she’s made a habit out of going sub-1:50 this season. Moreover, Sticklen is the two-time defending champion in this event, so we should be in for an amazing race.

The 200 breast is the only event in prelims today that is without its defending champion. That’s because Alex Walsh won it last year and is doing the 200 fly instead this year. That means we’re guaranteed a new champion tonight, and the top seed coming into the meet by over a second is Stanford’s Lucy Bell. Bell has been as fast as 2:04.60 this season, and is coming off a 3rd place finish in the 400 IM last night.

TEAM SCORES (THRU FRIDAY NIGHT)

1. Virginia – 383
2. Stanford – 292
3. Texas – 288
4. Indiana – 209
5. Tennessee – 195
6. Florida – 177
7. Louisville – 160.5
8. California – 139.5
9. Michigan – 121
10. NC State – 114
11. Wisconsin – 93
12. USC – 90
13. Miami (FL) – 75.5
14. North Carolina – 50
15. Arizona State – 41.5
16. Alabama – 41
17. Georgia – 38
18. Ohio State – 37
19. Kansas/Purdue – 25 (Tie)
20. –
21. Pitt – 21
22. Arizona – 20
23. Duke – 18
24. Virginia Tech – 17
25. South Carolina/Southern Illinois/LSU/Cincinnati – 15 (Tie)
26. –
27. –
28. –
29. Houston – 13
30. Brigham Young – 12
31. Texas A&M – 11
32. Auburn/Princeton – 6 (Tie)
33. –
34. Arkansas – 4
35. Minnesota/Florida State/Akron – 2 (Tie)
36. –
37. –
38. Washington State – 1

Women’s 200 Backstroke

• NCAA Record: 1:46.87 – Claire Curzan, Virginia (2025)
• Championship Record: 1:47.24 – Beata Nelson, Wisconsin (2019)
• American Record: 1:46.87 – Claire Curzan, Virginia (2025)
• U.S. Open Record: 1:46.87 – Claire Curzan, Virginia (2025)
• 2024 Champion: Phoebe Bacon, Wisconsin – 1:48.23

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Claire Curzan (Virginia) – 1:48.01
2. Bella Sims (Florida) – 1:49.09
3. Leah Shackley (NC State) – 1:49.58
4. Phoebe Bacon (Wisconsin) – 1:49.61
5. Josephine Fuller (Tennessee) – 1:50.02
6. Carmen Weiler Sastre (Virginia Tech) – 1:50.22
7. Isabelle Stadden (California) – 1:50.51
8. Erika Pelaez (NC State) – 1:50.55
9. Miranda Grana (Indiana) – 1:50.62
10. Amy Riordan (South Carolina) – 1:51.23
11. Maggie Wanezek (Wisconsin) – 1:51.47
12. Charlotte Wilson (Virginia) – 1:51.51
13. Catie Choate (Florida) – 1:51.55
14. Sophia Frei (North Carolina) – 1:51.69
15. Krista Marlin (Ohio State) – 1:51.73
16. Regan Rathwell (Tennessee) – 1:51.75

NCAA record holder Claire Curzan led prelims of the 200 back by a comfortable margin this morning, clocking in at 1:48.01. Curzan set the NCAA record in this event last month at the ACC Championships, where she swam a 1:46.87. Combine that with her win in the 100 back last night, and Curzan is the clear favorite heading into finals tonight.

After finishing 2nd in the 100 back last night, Florida’s Bella Sims was 2nd this morning, swimming a 1:49.09. That’s a strong morning swim for the sophomore, coming in less than a second off her career best of 1:48.28, set last month at the SEC Championships.

NC State freshman Leah Shackley continues to have a great meet at her first NCAAs. Shackley came in 3rd this morning with a 1:49.58, less than a second from her career best of 1:48.73. Shackley is joined by fellow NC State freshman Erika Pelaez in tonight’s ‘A’ final. Pelaez swam a 1:50.55, which was good for 8th this morning, also marking a new career best.

Defending NCAA champion Phoebe Bacon clocked a 1:49.61 to take 4th this morning. Bacon won the event in 1:48.23 last year, and we can expect her to be very much in the mix tonight as well.

Following her double ‘A’ final appearance in finals last night, Indiana’s Miranda Grana was the first swimmer out the ‘A’ final in this event, finishing 9th in 1:50.62. That time was just off Grana’s career best of 1:50.50, which she swam at the Big Ten Championships last night. Grana set IU program record in the 100 fly and 100 back last night in finals, so we’ll see if she can add to that tally tonight in this event.

Women’s 100 Freestyle

• NCAA Record: 44.83 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
• Championship Record: 44.83 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
• American Record: 44.83 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
• U.S. Open Record: 44.83 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
• 2024 Champion: Gretchen Walsh, Virginia – 44.83

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Gretchen Walsh (Virginia) – 45.19
2. Torri Huske (Stanford) – 46.54
3. Camille Spink (Tennessee) – 46.84
4. Anna Moesch (Virginia) – 46.96
5. Stephanie Balduccini (Michigan) – 47.09
6. Julia Dennis (Louisville) – 47.11
7. Lindsay Flynn (Michigan) – 47.29
8. Minna Abraham (USC) – 47.37
9. Anna Peplowski (Indiana) – 47.39
10. Cadence Vincent (Alabama) – 47.43
11. Kristina Paegle (Indiana) – 47.56
12. Gabi Albiero (Louisville) – 47.57
13. Zita Szoke (Ohio) – 47.63
14. Maxine Parker (Virginia) – 47.65
15. Lucy Mehraban (Louisville) – 47.81
16. Teresa Ivan (Ohio State)/Erin Gemmell (Texas)/Helena Jones (Georgia) – 47.88 (Tie – swim-off required)

Well, first things first: there was a 3-way tie for 16th this morning between Ohio State’s Teresa Ivan, Texas’ Erin Gemmell, and Georgia’s Helena Jones, each of whome went 47.88. That tie will result in a swim-off, which is scheduled to take place at 11:30. The swim-off will determine which of one of those three women advances to the ‘B’ final tonight.

UPDATE: 

Here are the results from the swim-off:

1. Helena Jones – 47.64
2. Erin Gemmell – 47.91
3. Teresa Ivan – 47.95

Georgia’s Helena Jones took the swim-off in 47.64, advancing to the ‘B’ final tonight as the 16th seed. 

As expected, Gretchen Walsh ran away with the event this morning. Walsh was out very fast, splitting 21.44 on the opening 50, which matched her opening split from her record swim of 44.83 last year. This morning, Walsh went 45.19, clipping her season best by 0.01 seconds and setting her up for a big swim tonight.

Stanford’s Torri Huske came in 2nd with a 46.54, which comes in half-a-second off her season best of 46.09. Camille Spink and Anna Moesch were also under 47 seconds this morning.

Michigan managed to put two swimmers into the ‘A’ final in this event. Stephanie Balduccini, who came in 3rd in the 200 free last night, went a new season best of 47.09 to take 5th this morning. Balduccini has been as fast as 47.04 in her career, a time which she swam at last year’s NCAAs. Teammate Lindsay Flynn went 47.29, clipping her career best by 0.01 seconds and finishing 7th.

200 free champion Anna Peplowski was the first swimmer out of the ‘A’ final for tonight, finishing 9th with a 47.39. Peplowski was just off her season best of 47.37, which, coincidentally, is the time it took to finish 8th this morning. She holds a career best of 47.18 from last year’s NCAAs.

Finishing 20th was Washington State’s Darcy Revitt, who set a new program record with her swim of 48.05. Revitt is a freshman for the Cougars.

Women’s 200 Breaststroke

• NCAA Record: 2:01.29 – Kate Douglass, Virginia (2023)
• Championship Record: 2:01.29 – Kate Douglass, Virginia (2023)
• American Record: 2:01.29 – Kate Douglass, Virginia (2023)
• U.S. Open Record: 2:01.29 – Kate Douglass, Virginia (2023)
• 2024 Champion: Alex Walsh, Virginia – 2:02.07

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Mackenzie Miller (BYU) – 2:06.12
2. Lucy Bell (Stanford) – 2:06.61
3. Emily Lundgren (Washington State) – 2:06.83
4. Kaelyn Gridley (Duke) – 2:06.93
5. Brearna Crawford (Indiana) – 2:07.16
6. Aimee Canny (Virginia) – 2:07.20
7. Mona McSharry (Tennessee) – 2:07.30
8. Aibigail Herscu (California) – 2:07.60
9. Avery Wiseman (Alabama) – 2:07.63
10. Emma Weber (Virginia) – 2:07.74
11. Ava DeAngelis (Ohio State) – 2:07.85
12. Aliz Kalmar (Fresno State)/Maddy Huggins (Florida State) – 2:08.20 (Tie)
13. –
14. Olivia Herron (Southern Illinois) – 2:08.39
15. McKenzie Siroky (Tennessee) – 2:08.55
16. Letitia Sim (Michigan) – 2:08.56

It was BYU’s Mackenzie Miller who led prelims of the 200 breast this morning, swimming a 2:06.12. That swim marks a personal best for Miller, as well as a BYU program record. Her previous best was a 2:06.53, set at the Big 12 Championships a few weeks ago.

Stanford’s Lucy Bell, the top seed coming into the event, was 2nd this morning in 2:06.61. That was a fine morning swim for Bell, who holds the fastest season best in the field with a 2:04.60. Bell was only out in 1:01.37 on the first 100 this morning, which was the 2nd-slowest split of the top 8 swimmers, so we’ll see if she’s more aggressive on the front half tonight.

Washington State’s Emily Lundgren ripped a 2:06.83 to finish 3rd this morning. That’s a career best and a program record for Washington State, marking their 2nd of the morning.

100 breast runner-up Mona McSharry made it into the ‘A’ final tonight, swimming a 2:07.30 for 7th. McSharry has been 2:05.85 already this season, so we’ll be looking for her to move up tonight.

Southern Illinois’ Olivia Herron qualified for the ‘B’ final, taking 14th in 2:08.39. Her performance comes after SIU teammate Celia Pulido came in 4th in the 100 back last night.

Women’s 200 Butterfly

• NCAA Record: 1:49.16 – Alex Walsh, Virginia (2024)
• Championship Record: 1:49.95 – Emma Sticklen, Texas (2023)
• American Record: 1:48.33 – Regan Smith (2023)
• U.S. Open Record: 1:48.33 – Regan Smith (2023)
• 2024 Champion: Emma Sticklen, Texas – 1:50.99

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Emma Sticklen (Texas) – 1:49.90 (Meet Record)
2. Tess Howley (Virginia) – 1:51.92
3. Caroline Bricker (Stanford) – 1:52.13
4. Alex Walsh (Virginia) – 1:52.18
5. Lillie Nordmann (Stanford) – 1:52.29
6. Campbell Stoll (Texas) – 1:52.61
7. Hannah Bellard (Michigan) – 1:52.86
8. Greta Pelzek (South Carolina) – 1:52.91
9. Olivia Bray (Texas) – 1:53.16
10. Lea Polonsky (California) -1:53.33
11. Lilou Ressencourt (California) – 1:53.54
12. Sara Stotler (Tennessee) – 1:53.86
13. Tristen Ulett (Louisville) – 1:53.89
14. Emily Brown (Tennessee)/Addison Reese (Florida) – 1:53.86
15. –
16. Edith Jernstedt (Florida State) – 1:54.16

Two-time defending champion Emma Sticklen made a statement this morning in prelims of the 200 fly, taking down her own championship record. Sticklen was out like a bullet, swimming a 51.06 on the opening 100, which opened up a massive gap between her and the rest of the fastest circle-seeded heat. She ended up touching in 1:49.90, which clipped her meet record of 1:49.95 from the 2023 NCAAs. This swim marks Sticklen’s 6th time under 1:50 this season.

Virginia’s Tess Howley came in 2nd this morning with a 1:51.92. That swim marks a new career best, clipping her previous mark of 1:51.95, which she swam at NCAAs last year.

Caroline Bricker, the champion in the 400 IM last night, took 3rd this morning in 1:52.13. She was just a touch off her career best of 1:52.07, which she swam last year. Bricker was brilliant in the final of the 400 IM last night, however, so look for her to make some waves tonight.

Alex Walsh, the NCAA record holder in this event, played it cool this morning and wound up 4th with a time of 1:52.18. Walsh holds the record with her career best of 1:49.16, but has only been 1:50.43 so far this season. Still, Walsh swam great in the 100 breast last night, winning in a new career best, so she should still be live to give Sticklen an awesome race tonight in finals.

Women’s Platform Diving

• 2024 Champion: Viviana Del Angel, Minnesota – 327.90

Round 1/5 Update:

Out of all the diving events, the platform is the most unpredictable. Anyone in this field can conceivably make the A final with a great preliminary list. To stay in the running for the championship final, divers will look to average about 55-60 points per dive. Texas and Stanford each have multiple divers with scoring aspirations in this event, and this will undoubtedly play into the team race for second. Last night’s champion and one of the favorites for another A final appearance tonight, Alejandra Estudillo, only scored 37.50 on her first dive. She has work to do to climb back up the rankings, but she has the most difficult women’s list in the world, so she’s more than capable.

Round 2/5 Update:

Last round’s leader, Skyler Liu slightly missed this round with a 48.00, knocking her down in the rankings. The Hoosier is still very much in the hunt for the A final, though. Reigning champion, Minnesota’s Del Angel is looking on form so far as she sits in first currently. She will be very dangerous tonight as she looks to repeat. Texas’ Estudillo bounces back with a 64.35, but still sits back in 22nd. Stanford’s Anna Lemkin also had a strong second round showing which boosted her up to 9th place for the time being.

Round 3/5 Update:

SEC Champion Montserrat Lavenant from LSU put up a massive 78.40 dive to take the lead with two dives remaining. Minnesota’s Del Angel only scored 33.00 this round, moving her back. Because her first two dives were so strong, she’s still in the mix for a top eight spot. Currently, Stanford’s Lemkin sits in 10th, while Texas’ duo of Estudillo and Cranford sit at 13th and 16th respectively.

Round 4/5 Update:

Early in this round, we saw three divers that were sitting in A final position miss badly, opening the door for those below them in the ranking to sneak in. IU’s Ella Roselli, Arkansas’ Maria Sanchez-Moreno and Rutgers’ Sephora Ford all received a score of 32.40 or lower. With one round to go, they have to make the most of their final dive if they want to sneak back into A final position. Purdue’s Daryn Wright performed the highest scoring dive of the entire meet so far, earning 84.15, vaulting her into the driver’s seat heading into the last round. Texas’ Alejandra Estudillo and Bayleigh Cranford made big moves this round and will enter into their final dive in sixth and tenth place respectively. Stanford’s Anna Lemkin is also in the mix, checking in at eighth place with one round to go.

Round 5/5 Update:

Daryn Wright of Purdue finished up a stellar list and wrapped up this session as the leader with 361.65 points. Texas sophomore Bayleigh Cranford used a monster final dive to secure herself 91.80 points, earning a 10.0 from one judge and overtaking Wright for the highest scoring dive of the meet. After finding herself in 10th last round, Cranford vaults up to third with this effort. Stanford’s Lemkin got a nice break coming in 7th as it looked like she was set up for a 9th place finish, but Florida’s Monroy and Texas’ Estudillo missed their final dives taking themselves out of A final position.

Final Standings:

1. Daryn Wright (Purdue) – 361.65
2. Skyler Liu (Indiana) – 330.75
3. Bayleigh Cranford (Texas) – 319.60
4. Viviana Del Angel (Minnesota) – 306.35
5. Else Praasterink (Texas A&M) – 306.35
6. Montserrat Lavenant (LSU) – 304.80
7. Anna Lemkin (Stanford) – 296.40
8. Sophia McAfee (Purdue) – 289.00