2026 WOMEN’S BIG TEN SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Dates: Wednesday, February 18–Saturday, February 21
- Location: Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center, Minneapolis, MN
- Defending champions: Ohio State women (1x)
- Live Results (also available on Meet Mobile: “2026 B1G Women’s Swim & Dive Championships”)
- Live Video ($): B1G+
- Championship Central
- SwimSwam’s Meet Preview
- Teams: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, UCLA, USC, Wisconsin
- SwimSwam Live Recaps
- Full Meet PDF Results
The Michigan women have taken back the Big Ten Championship, winning their first title since 2018. Michigan scored a total of 1243 points this week in Minneapolis, 159 points ahead of 2nd place Indiana who had 1084 points.
With their win, the Wolverines captured their 18th Big Ten Championship in history. Only Ohio State (10) has double-digit Big Ten titles.
Michigan was dominant throughout the meet, sweeping both relays on night 1 to get them out in front from the start. The team led the entire meet.
Michigan’s Event Winners:
- 200 medley relay: Bella Sims, Letitia Sim, Brady Kendall, Lexi Greenhawt, 1:33.29
- 800 free relay: Bella Sims, Hannah Bellard, Stephanie Balduccini, Christey Liang, 6:48.02
- 400 IM: Bella Sims, 4:00.57
- 100 breast: Letitia Sim, 57.90
- 200 free relay: Lexi Greenhawt, Brady Kendall, Stephanie Balduccini, Leila Fack, 1:25.44
- 200 breast: Letitia Sim, 2:05.24
- 500 free: Hannah Bellard, 4:34.60
- 50 free: Brady Kendall, 21.09
- 400 medley relay: Bella Sims, Letitia Sim, Brady Kendall, Stephanie Balduccini, 3:24.08
- 200 IM: Bella Sims, 1:52.81
- 200 fly: Hannah Bellard, 1:50.34
Michigan was dominant at the meet and had a huge third night when they won 4/5 swimming events on the evening. Letitia Sim swept the breaststroke events, becoming the first swimmer from Michigan to do so since 1993. Bella Sims also made history, becoming the first swimmer from Michigan to sweep the IM events since 2005. Sims, the Florida transfer, also made a huge impact at the relay level, swimming on three of the team’s relay wins.
Not only was Sims a huge arrival but returners also stepped up. Brady Kendall won her first Big Ten title as she won the 50 free in a Big Ten record 21.09 while Hannah Bellard earned two wins this year as she defended her title in the 200 fly and added a win in the 500 free.
The Wolverines will head into the 2026 NCAA Championships in Atlanta, Georgia as a team that looks to come home with a trophy (top 4 teams). They finished 9th at the 2025 NCAA Championships with 196 points.
Final Team Standings:
- University of Michigan — 1243
- Indiana University — 1084
- Ohio State University — 1066
- University of Wisconsin, Madison — 893
- University of Southern California — 768
- University of Minnesota — 701
- University of California, Los Angeles — 605.5
- Purdue University — 497
- Northwestern University — 446
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln — 433.5
- Rutgers University — 379.5
- University of Iowa — 284
- Pennsylvania State University — 216
- University of Illinois — 195.5
Maybe Bella sims isn’t the problem
Quite an accomplishment for the coaching staff and swimmers, particularly Head Coach Matt Bowe, given the toss of a key staff member two weeks from the meet. (no comment on the toss)
Very SHOCKED that there was basically nothing that came out about him after the dismissal.
Usually the SS comment section is good about filling in the blanks!
Was hoping Northwestern would be better….what a let down. She has been the coach for 3 years!?
Where do you realistically think they should’ve landed as a team?
Good thing these teams did not have to compete against the SEC – Weeda whooped em but good!
Good thing those teams don’t have to do Big 10 academics 😀
OUCH! Shots FIRED!!!
with accuracy
SEC might be slightly deeper but B1G and SEC are fairly comparable. And, if memory serves, UMich did beat Tennessee twice at November meet.