NCAA Adds Women’s Wrestling as 91st Championship
1/17/2025 – National Wrestling Hall of Fame announcement
The NCAA added women’s wrestling as its 91st championship sport, providing another athletics opportunity for female athletes to compete. Divisions I, II and III approved the addition at the Association’s annual Convention this week in Nashville, Tennessee.
“Wrestling has come a long way from being a traditionally male-dominated sport. It’s inspiring to see how dedication and perseverance have opened doors for women,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. “With opportunities like their own NCAA wrestling championships, women are now thriving in the sport. Wrestlers serve as incredible role models, and it’s exciting to see young women being empowered both physically and through the educational opportunities wrestling provides.”
Women’s wrestling now advances from the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program to become a national collegiate championship, featuring female athletes from all three divisions competing against one another. The NCAA’s first women’s wrestling championship will be in 2026.
“We are thrilled that women’s wrestling will be an NCAA sport, making it the 91st championship that we host,” NCAA President Charlie Baker said. “We extend a big thank you to everyone who supported this effort and the athletes, coaches and fans for their passion for a fast-growing and exciting sport that brings even more opportunities for women to participate in athletics.”
There were 76 women’s wrestling programs at NCAA schools in 2023-24, with projections pointing to an additional 17 programs in 2024-25. More than 1,200 women wrestlers are competing at NCAA schools today. The sport is also diverse. At least 45% of the student-athletes competing are of diverse or international backgrounds.
“This means so much to women’s wrestling and to women’s sports in general,” said University of Iowa student-athlete wrestler and 2024 Olympic silver medalist Kennedy Blades. “It gives women’s wrestling recognition and shows that it is important, not just around the world, but also in our country. College sports are huge in the United States. This shows how much women’s wrestling is growing. Since I was a little girl, I dreamed about being an NCAA national wrestling champion. It will fulfill so many little girls’ dreams, including mine.”