2026-27 NCAA Ladies’s Power Rankings: Pre-Season Version

As in earlier years, SwimSwam’s Power Rankings are someplace between the CSCAA-style twin meet rankings and a pure prediction of NCAA end order. SwimSwam’s rankings bear in mind how a group seems to be in the intervening time, whereas retaining the top of the season in thoughts by way of issues like a group’s earlier trajectory and NCAA scoring potential. These rankings are by nature subjective, and a jumping-off level for dialogue. If you disagree with any group’s rating, be happy to make your case in our feedback part.

James Sutherland, Braden Keith, Anya Pelshaw, Terin Fordyama, and Robert Gibbs contributed to this report.

Well of us, it’s that point once more, and with the NCAA season beginning later this month, we formally have our pre-season energy rankings.

This NCAA season will probably be headlined by the Virginia Cavaliers, who will probably be searching their seventh-straight NCAA title with Texas as one other favourite to stay within the high three.

Overall there weren’t a ton of giant actions that occurred throughout the ladies’s rankings with all of the groups within the top-10 retaining their spots into the primary rankings of the 2025-2026 season.

Honorable Mentions: UCLA, Notre Dame, Nevada, Akron

#25: Purdue — (2026 NCAA Rank: T-21)

Purdue graduated most of their particular person factors after final season, however nonetheless have 9 coming back from sophomore diver Avery Worobel. They even have a robust junior class that introduced in 80+ factors on the Big Ten Championships and will qualify a number of swimmers to NCAAs this season together with butterflyer Campbell Scofield. — M.F.

#24: South Carolina -5 (2026 NCAA Rank: 19)

The South Carolina girls final season had been the underdog story of the complete twin meet season, successful a number of main twin meets towards groups like Georgia. They graduated all 37 of their particular person factors from diver Sophie Verzyl, however they may have 4 particular person NCAA qualifiers return for this season. — M.F.

#23: Miami (FL) -5 (2026 NCAA Rank: 18)

Another large diving program, Miami introduced in 48 factors eventually yr’s NCAAs, all of which got here from senior divers Chiara Pellacani and Margo O’Meara. They have some robust swimmers junior butterflyer Ashlyn Massey who will probably be essential in twin meet wins for the Hurricanes this season. — M.F.

#22: Nebraska +5 (2026 NCAA Rank: 27)

Filling the opening left by Gena Jorgenson will probably be a serious barrier for the Cornhuskers this season. They will probably be led by senior sprinter and faculty report holder Beatrix Tanko together with a robust junior class that features diver Abigail Baxter, who scored 9 factors on the 2026 NCAAs. — M.F.

#21: Auburn +4 (2026 NCAA Rank: T-25)

The Tigers are one of many few groups on this checklist who didn’t have an enormous graduating class. Returning all of their particular person factors from 2026 in divers Juliette Landi and Emily Halifax, in addition they have junior Lora Komoroczy, who had some main twin meet performances final season — M.F.

#20: LSU +1 (2026 NCAA Rank: T-21)

Last season’s LSU NCAA group was made up primarily of seniors and sophomores, and whereas they misplaced a number of main seniors like Michaela de Villiers and Sofia Sartori, they’re returning a big portion of their NCAA roster and SEC scorers. — M.F.

#19: Kansas +6 (2026 NCAA Rank: T-25)

One extra season with diver Shiyun Lai may give Kansas the bump they should make it into the highest 20 at this season’s meet. If their distance group of Gabi Dyer, Ivy Solt, and Tait Haag can proceed to enhance within the 500 free, they might additionally add a person swimming qualifier in 2027. — M.F.

#18: Arkansas +10 (2026 NCAA Rank: 28)

With one of many high recruiting lessons of 2027, Arkansas may see a giant bounce in 2027, particularly since they aren’t dropping any of their NCAA roster and can retain Harriet Rogers for a ultimate season. With the additions of Hayden Gibson and Rachel McAlpin they’ve large potential. — M.F. 

#17: North Carolina +7 (2026 NCAA Rank: 24)

Another group with just a few graduating athletes, and no graduating scorers, North Carolina may make huge jumps this yr. Their senior trio of Sophia Frei, Mary Macaulay, and Taylor Bloom will prepared the ground as they attempt to break into the highest 20 with the addition of Virginia switch Raya Mellot and #5 ranked diver Juliet Radich. — M.F.

#16: Alabama -5 (2026 NCAA Rank: 11)

With yet another yr of Emily Jones, the Crimson Tide will look to profit from the time that they’ve left. This is a group loaded with expertise and can purpose to make use of each little bit of it to make a splash in each the CSL and SEC. — T.F.

#15: USC -1 (2026 NCAA Rank: 14)

The Trojans are struggling some essential losses in Nicole Maier, Justina Kozan and Claire Tuggle, making for a giant blow to their relays this season. Minna Abraham stays their high scorer, and ideally for USC, she’s nearer to her 2025 level complete (31) than the 15 she scored final season. Bella Brito persevering with to develop in her sophomore yr will probably be essential, whereas an attention-grabbing worldwide freshman class may be impactful in the event that they transition to yards properly. — J.S.

#14: Minnesota +2 (2026 NCAA Rank: 16)

The Golden Gophers lose one among their two star divers to commencement, making Elna Widerstrom all of the extra priceless as Vivi Del Angel strikes on after a distinguished profession. Katie McCarthy was their lone swimming scorer final season, and she or he’ll be joined by Canadian Mia Thomas within the distance group, who’s Minnesota’s solely vital addition. — J.S.

#13: Georgia +2 (2026 NCAA Rank: 15)

Led by Kennedi Dobson, the Georgia girls seemed primed to enhance on their Fifteenth-place end from final season in the event that they get some manufacturing from a really stable recruiting class. Maya Schweikert and Maddie Thornton have an opportunity to contribute individually straight away, which can take some weight off of Dobson, who’s chargeable for 33 of their 36 returning factors. Also, Georgia solely scored in two relays at NCAAs final yr, so growing that quantity will probably be paramount. — J.S.

#12: Wisconsin +1 (2026 NCAA Rank: 13)

Maggie Wanezek had an excellent sophomore season with the Badgers and the group carried out properly total underneath Dr. Jack Brown in its first season — A.P.

#11: Ohio State +1 (2026 NCAA Rank: 12)

Ohio State completed twelfth eventually yr’s NCAAs and will transfer into the highest 10 at this yr’s meet, however they’ve steep competitors on the high of the rankings. They didn’t lose any of their relay or high performing swimmers and will probably be a severe risk at any meets they race, together with their CSL competitions. — M.F.

#10: Louisville -2 (2026 NCAA Rank: 8)

Another CSL group, Louisville had a robust recruiting class final season, and the addition of Anastasia Gorbenko was completely huge for them. They misplaced senior sprinter Julia Dennis which will probably be a blow to their relays, and they didn’t herald a single SwimSwam ranked recruit for the category of 2026. — M.F.

#9: Florida +1 (2026 NCAA Rank: 10)

The Gators went huge in worldwide recruiting within the class of 2026, and have introduced in a really deep and really proficient group. It can take a yr for swimmers to settle in to the Florida coaching and actually take off collegiately, so have a look at the Gators to make a transfer towards the highest 5 within the 2027-2028 season. — B.Okay.

#8: Stanford -6 (2026 NCAA Rank: 2)

How do you change an Olympic gold medalist? That is the battle Stanford will probably be preventing this yr after Torri Huske graduated following three particular person occasion wins on the 2026 NCAA Championships. Huske was not the one graduating senior with Lucy Bell, Gigi Johnson, and Emily Moore all bringing in double digit factors of their ultimate season. The Cardinal are in an enormous rebuilding yr, however they’ve a number of robust recruits coming in that can assist begin that course of. — M.F.

#7: NC State +2 (2026 NCAA Rank: 9)

Eneli Jefimova is among the many largest and brightest swimmers to observe as soon as once more this season. Only a sophomore, she is going to undoubtedly be one of many names that followers are circling because the season progresses to probably hoist one other particular person nationwide title in a number of months. — T.F.

#6: Michigan — (2026 NCAA Rank: 6)

The Michigan girls look wound up for an excellent yr, and a great freshman class together with Mckinley Scobie (48.7/1:46.5 freestyler) means they need to get higher. The factor is that the groups of their vary like Stanford and NC State have put up blockbuster lessons and in NC State’s case, are returning a ton of factors. There’s a probable state of affairs the place Michigan really will get higher and nonetheless strikes down at NCAAs this season. — B.Okay.

#5: Indiana +2 (2026 NCAA Rank: 7)

Adding Anita Bottazzo from the portal places the group’s medley relay into 2nd place competition, up from seventh and ninth this previous season. The incoming freshman class boosts the gap group that had no NCAA qualifiers. — A.P.

#4: Tennessee +1 (2026 NCAA Rank: 5)

Charlotte Crush’s arrival provides rapid depth and NCAA title potential. Camille Spink had a fantastic season final yr and is about to be one of many high dash freestylers as soon as once more — A.P.

#3: Cal +1 (2026 NCAA Rank: 4)

After an NCAA Breakthrough for Weinstein, and a really productive summer time from Mary-Ambre Moluh, the Golden bears ought to really feel some pleasure for what’s to return for the 2026-27 season.  — T.F.

#2: Texas +1 (2026 NCAA Rank: 3)

With no seniors on their scoring roster final season, the Texas Longhorns are in place for a really robust season in 2027 that would see them transfer again to the highest two spots on the NCAA leaderboard, although they may probably have fierce challengers in Cal and Tennessee. They will add Audrey Derivaux to their roster a yr early, and she or he is a possible NCAA scorer in quite a few occasions as a freshman. — M.F.

#1: Virginia — (2026 NCAA Rank: 1)

It feels just like the Virginia girls’s group solely continues to enhance with newly minted world report holder Sara Curtis, breakthrough star Anna Moesch, and 46-point switch Teagan O’Dell. It looks like the one place Virginia may be weak this yr is breaststroke after Emma Weber and Aimee Canny graduated, however Lithuanian breaststroker Smilte Plytnykaite seems to be fill that hole instantly as a freshman. The Cavaliers would be the group to beat and earlier than the season they had been a unanimous #1 alternative for the SwimSwam workers. — M.F.