2026 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships
- Wednesday, March 18 – Saturday, March 21, 2026
- McAuley Aquatic Center, Atlanta, GA
- Defending Champions: Virginia (5x)
- Championship Central
- Preview Index
- Psych Sheet
- Live Stream
- Live Results
- Live Recaps
Swim fans were treated to some jaw dropping times on the first day of the 2026 women’s NCAA Championships and first year with the new schedule. Though there were no major upsets, as Jillian Cox defended her crown in the 1650 free and Virginia claimed both relay titles, there were several other narratives. UVA posted the #2 time in history in the 800 free relay, largely thanks to Anna Moesch who posted the fastest relay split in history, Liberty Clark led off Indiana’s 800 free relay with the #3 time ever, and Virginia swam yet another 1:31 in the 200 medley relay to hold all top 10 of the event’s fastest performances.
We’ve linked all of the race videos down below, courtesy of NCAA Swimming on Youtube.
Women’s 1650 Freestyle – Final Heat
- NCAA Record: 15:03.21 – Katie Ledecky, Stanford (2017)
- American Record: 14:59.62 – Katie Ledecky, Gator Swim Club (2025)
- U.S. Open Record: 14:59.62 – Katie Ledecky, Gator Swim Club (2025)
- Championship Record: 15:07.70 – Katie Ledecky, Stanford (2017)
- 2025 Champion: Jillian Cox, Texas – 15:33.54
- 2025 8th/16th Place Times: 15:52.06/15:57.60
Top 8:
- Jillian Cox (TEX) — 15:32.26
- Claire Weinstein (CAL) — 15:36.52
- Katie Grimes (UVA) — 15:42.65
- Gena Jorgenson (NEB) — 15:42.94
- Mila Nikanorov (OSU) — 15:46.48
- Kennedi Dobson (UGA) — 15:46.97
- Thilda Haell (LOU) — 15:51.82
- Kate Hurst (TEX) — 15:53.09
CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL:
Women’s 200 Medley Relay – Final Heat
- NCAA Record: 1:31.10 – Virginia (Curzan, A. Walsh, G. Walsh, Parker), 2025
- American Record: 1:31.10 – Virginia (Curzan, A. Walsh, G. Walsh, Parker), 2025
- U.S. Open Record: 1:31.10 – Virginia (Curzan, A. Walsh, G. Walsh, Parker), 2025
- Championship Record: 1:31.10 – Virginia (Curzan, A. Walsh, G. Walsh, Parker), 2025
- 2025 Champion: Virginia (Curzan, A. Walsh, G. Walsh, Parker) – 1:31.10
- 2025 8th/16th Place Times: 1:34.54/1:35.38
Top 8:
- Virginia (Curtis, Weber, Curzan, Greenwaldt) — 1:31.67
- Stanford (Huske, Thomas, Johnson, Olasewere)/Louisville (Mishler, Gorbenko, Larsen, Dennis) — 1:32.35
- —
- Tennessee — 1:32.66
- NC State — 1:33.05
- Michigan — 1:33.18
- Texas — 1:33.38
- Alabama — 1:33.81
Cal — Disqualified
CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL:
Women’s 800 Free Relay – Final Heat
- NCAA Record: 6:44.13 – Virginia (G. Walsh, A. Walsh, Canny, Curzan), 2025
- American Record: 6:45.91 – Stanford (Manuel, Neal, Eastin, Ledecky), 2017
- U.S. Open Record: 6:44.13 – Virginia (G. Walsh, A. Walsh, Canny, Curzan), 2025
- Championship Record: 6:45.91 – Stanford (Manuel, Neal, Eastin, Ledecky), 2017
- 2025 Champion: Stanford (Bricker, Roghair, Nordmann, Wilson) – 6:46.98
- 2025 8th/16th Place Times: 6:55.14/7:01.17
Top 8:
- Virginia (Canny, Mintenko, Hartman, Moesch) — 6:45.21 **Meet Record
- Texas (Padar, Nesty, Chase, Gemmel) — 6:46.91
- Cal (West, Weinstein, O’Dell, Cosgrove) — 6:47.68
- Michigan — 6:48.05
- Indiana – 6:48.85
- Stanford — 6:50.12
- USC — 6:51.17
- Tennessee — 6:53.78
CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL:
