LOS ANGELES, CA – As the highly anticipated 2026 NCAA gymnastics season gets underway, the energy surrounding the UCLA Bruins program is palpable, driven not just by talent, but by sheer belief. At the heart of this optimism is two-time Olympic medalist Jordan Chiles, who firmly views her UCLA squad as a legitimate national title contender.
Two meets into the campaign, the ninth-ranked Bruins are already setting an unforgiving standard for execution. In the world of elite collegiate gymnastics, where margins are razor-thin, Chiles and her teammates understand that perfection—or as close as humanly possible—is the baseline requirement to avoid costly deductions from the judges.
The Pursuit of Perfection: Chiles’s Championship Mindset
Jordan Chiles, a veteran presence and decorated athlete, brings an Olympic level of expectation to Pauley Pavilion. Her confidence is infectious, but it is built on the foundation of relentless hard work being demanded by Head Coach Janelle McDonald.
“That’s really where our mindset is at,” Coach McDonald stated recently, emphasizing the team’s dedication to cleaning up every minute detail. “We want to continue to learn and grow from the things that we’ve already experienced and really put in the work to be the best team that we’re capable of being.”
As the Bruins prepared for their highly anticipated home opener against Nebraska, the focus remained squarely on the small, crucial elements: the precision of their routines and, critically, the stick of their landings. In a sport where a wobble can mean the difference between first and third place, sticking the landing is paramount.
Setting the Tone Early Against Elite Competition
The Bruins faced an immediate litmus test during a demanding quad meet in West Valley City, Utah. Competing against some of the nation’s most formidable programs, UCLA finished third, trailing only the defending national champion Oklahoma and the No. 2 ranked Louisiana State University (LSU). While not the top result, the meet served a vital purpose in shaping the team’s trajectory.
“None of us are locked in how we want to be,” McDonald admitted following the Utah competition. “It’s a really good test early in the season to have great competition across the board at a meet but also to be able to kind of see where you’re at and where we need to continue to build, too.”
Chiles herself delivered a standout performance at the Utah meet, capturing the floor exercise title. Her ability to execute high-difficulty routines flawlessly while maintaining an undeniable stage presence exemplifies the standard she expects from the entire roster.
The Significance of Early Season Benchmarks
For a program aiming for the top spot—a consistent goal for UCLA Gymnastics—early season matchups against reigning champions like Oklahoma are invaluable. They reveal the gaps that need closing before the intensity of the postseason arrives. The Bruins are not just aiming to qualify for nationals; they are building a routine structure designed to withstand the pressure cooker of the NCAA Championships.
The journey to a title involves managing pressure, maintaining consistency across all four apparatuses (vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise), and peaking at the right time. Jordan Chiles, having navigated the massive pressure of the Olympic stage, brings crucial perspective to her younger teammates about compartmentalizing distractions and focusing solely on the task at hand.
Building Depth Beyond the Stars
While Chiles is the undeniable star, the Bruins’ championship aspirations hinge on roster depth. Coach McDonald’s emphasis on execution across the board suggests a philosophy that relies on every single routine contributing maximum value. In a tight competition, a single slip from a lower-ranked athlete can derail the team’s score just as easily as a mistake from a top performer.
This season, UCLA is focused on integrating its developing athletes into high-stakes environments early, ensuring that when the conference championships and NCAA Regionals arrive, the entire team is battle-tested and confident in hitting their marks under duress. If the Bruins can harness the high-level execution demonstrated by Chiles and translate that consistency across the lineup, their coach’s and star’s belief in a national title run will become increasingly justified.
As the team heads into their home opener, the atmosphere at Pauley Pavilion is expected to be electric. Fans are eager to see if the Bruins can translate their high standards into flawless performances, taking the next critical step toward realizing Jordan Chiles’s championship vision for the 2026 season.
