SwimSwam Pulse is a recurring feature tracking and analyzing the results of our periodic A3 Performance Polls. You can cast your vote in our newest poll on the SwimSwam homepage, about halfway down the page on the right side.
Our most recent poll asked SwimSwam readers which women’s team behind the established top three they’re most optimistic about heading into 2024-25:
Question: Which women’s NCAA team are you more bullish on this season?
RESULTS
- Stanford – 37.3%
- Cal – 27.9%
- Tennessee – 13.2%
- NC State – 12.7%
- Indiana – 7.2%
- Louisville – 1.7%
There was a clear 1-2-3 at the 2024 Women’s NCAA Championships, and on paper, it looks as though Virginia, Texas and Florida will remain the best three teams in the nation as we enter the 2024-25 campaign.
However, which school has the next-best squad is foggy. Tennessee was 4th last year, while Stanford was 3rd in 2023, before the Gators emerged as a top-three threat.
In our latest poll asking SwimSwam readers which “best of the rest” team they’re most bullish on this season, Stanford was the clear #1 pick with more than 37% of votes.
The Cardinal have a burgeoning core that performed well last season, led by Lucy Bell, Aurora Roghair and Caroline Bricker, who combined for 99 points at the 2024 NCAAs and all return for the coming campaign.
Additionally, Stanford brings back superstar and six-time Olympic medalist Torri Huske, who is coming off winning five medals, including three gold, at the Paris Games. Huske took a redshirt season away from college swimming in 2023-24, but scored 50 points at NCAAs in 2023 (not to mention her relay value).
There’s an argument to be made that Stanford could possibly challenge Florida for that #3 spot, especially with the Gators losing Isabel Ivey.
Given the return of Huske, it’s no surprise to see the Cardinal at the top of the poll, but their in-state rivals from Cal, who like Stanford, will be joining the ACC this season, weren’t too far behind with their fair share of votes at 27.9%.
The rebuilding Bears were only 11th at NCAAs last season, but the additions of French Olympians Mary-Ambre Moluh and Lilou Ressencourt, along with Canadian Mia West, has clearly led to some optimism—along with the return of fith-year Isabelle Stadden.
Tennessee, which scored 277 points last season in their 4th-place finish (compared to Stanford’s 250 and Cal’s 153), only garnered 13.2% of votes in the poll, edging out NC State.
Despite the Volunteers sitting well behind Stanford and Cal in the poll, they do bring back their top scorers, namely Josephine Fuller, Mona McSharry and Emelie Fast, who, like the previously-mentioned Cardinal trio, combined for 99 individual points at the 2024 NCAAs.
Below, vote in our new A3 Performance Poll, which asks: With so much change at Arizona State, who is the favorite to win men’s NCAAs?
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The A3 Performance Poll is courtesy of A3 Performance, a SwimSwam partner.
On the men’s side, people are too high on Texas and sleeping on IU and UF. I wouldn’t be surprised to see either of the latter 2 take the whole thing this year. Texas is still just not there in sprint freestyle, fly, or breaststroke and that’s going to hurt relays in a big way compared to those other 3 teams. They’ll be a little better in the SEC setting where that’s less of a blow to relay points.
Hot take maybe but Stanford > UF
UF brings in a 1:07 flat LC breaststroker, a Swiss Army knife from Canada who goes 1:57 200 free LC and 4:38 400 IM, Mabel Zavaros is back, they have NCAA qualifying transfers from Arizona and Tennessee, and a great freshman class. If Nicole Maier is still coming, that will just be the cherry on top. They’re only going to get better this year.
It sounds crazy to say, but the Olympic champion in the 100 fly should drop the 100 fly on Friday at NCAAs in favor of the 200 free. Huske doesn’t have an individual NCAA title yet and she has a much better chance going against Sims and Peplowski than against Walsh.
I wouldn’t be surprised if she takes the 200 IM. She’s made massive gains in the LC version in the last year and I think she could beat Walsh again.
I think it’s going to take a lot for Texas to get another top 2 finish. With Jacoby turning pro, they’re now losing 154 individual points from last season (unless Bridget O’Neil is taking a 5th year). They’ve still got a strong roster and have some good athletes coming in, but that’s a lot of points to make up. Florida looks like they’re on pace to score about as many points as last year, while Tennessee and Stanford lose almost nothing, and gain a lot. I think 2025 NCAAs will see Virginia cruise to title number 5, while Texas, Florida, Tennessee and Stanford battle it out for 2nd.
So intrigued to see what Torri’s yard times look like after her LCM time drops.
same, I don’t think she’ll challenge Gretchen in the events they both swim but other events could be very intriguing – I’m especially interested in seeing how fast her 200 free and IM could be
1 year ago, the swimswam comment consensus was that Meehan was useless and has no idea what he’s doing. Lol how things change
I’d give it until the midseason meet and we will call him useless again.