SwimSwam Pulse: 37.3% Pick Stanford Women As ‘Best of the Rest’ Team Behind Top 3

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 BellAurora 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 FullerMona 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 Pollwhich asks: With so much change at Arizona State, who is the favorite to win men’s NCAAs?

Who is your pick to win the men's NCAA title in 2025?

View Results

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ABOUT A3 PERFORMANCE

A3 Performance is an independently-owned, performance swimwear company built on a passion for swimming, athletes, and athletic performance. We encourage swimmers to swim better and faster at all ages and levels, from beginners to Olympians.  Driven by a genuine leader and devoted staff that are passionate about swimming and service, A3 Performance strives to inspire and enrich the sport of swimming with innovative and impactful products that motivate swimmers to be their very best – an A3 Performer.

The A3 Performance Poll is courtesy of A3 Performance, a SwimSwam partner.

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oxyswim
1 month ago

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.

I miss the ISL (go dawgs)
1 month ago

Hot take maybe but Stanford > UF

aquajosh
Reply to  I miss the ISL (go dawgs)
29 days ago

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.

Willswim
1 month ago

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.

Yikes
Reply to  Willswim
29 days ago

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.

swim6857
1 month ago

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.

cheese
1 month ago

So intrigued to see what Torri’s yard times look like after her LCM time drops.

jeff
Reply to  cheese
1 month ago

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

RAP
1 month ago

1 year ago, the swimswam comment consensus was that Meehan was useless and has no idea what he’s doing. Lol how things change

taa
Reply to  RAP
1 month ago

I’d give it until the midseason meet and we will call him useless again.

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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