2024-25 NCAA Ladies’s Energy Rankings: September Version

As in earlier years, SwimSwam’s Energy Rankings are someplace between the CSCAA-style twin meet rankings and a pure prediction of NCAA end order. SwimSwam’s rankings take note of how a workforce seems to be in the meanwhile, whereas protecting the tip of the season in thoughts via issues like a workforce’s earlier trajectory and NCAA scoring potential. These rankings are by nature subjective, and a jumping-off level for dialogue. For those who disagree with any workforce’s rating, be happy to make your case in our feedback part.

James Sutherland, Braden Keith, Spencer Penland, Robert Gibbs, Yanyan Li, and Anya Pelshaw contributed to this report.

After a memorable summer time of Olympic swimming in Paris, we’re able to dive into the 2024-25 NCAA season. We’ve acquired some massive names returning to the NCAA for one more season, together with those that took Olympic redshirt seasons to arrange for the Paris Video games. Torri Huske returns so as to add extra firepower to a Stanford roster that returns all of its 2024 NCAA particular person factors, Letitia Sim is again on the proper second for Michigan, and Claire Curzan is now eligible to race within the NCAA for Virginia.

Regardless of a busy offseason, the highest of the standings within the girls’s NCAA hasn’t modified all that a lot. Virginia has all of the items it must win a fifth-straight NCAA title, and Texas seems to be ensconced in second for now. Nearly all of groups have risen or fallen one or two locations, reflecting swings in energy as applications both graduate or herald a giant piece. In fact, there are a pair exceptions to that assertion, as key losses for 2 groups that completed within the prime 10 final season have pushed our writers to rank them exterior of the highest 10 to start the season.

Honorable Point out: Notre Dame Preventing Irish

(Tie) #25: Northwestern Wildcats +2 (2024 NCAA Rank: 27)

Northwestern completed twenty seventh final season, and graduated their solely particular person level scorer. So, why are they ranked within the prime 25? Their recruiting class, which options two NCAA-qualifying fifth-years, Ekaterina Nikonova and Nikki Venema. -SK 

(Tie) #25: Virginia Tech Hokies +1 (2024 NCAA Rank: 26)

twenty fifth was a tricky name for me. I went with Virginia Tech, however they’ll want their strong recruiting class (which we ranked fifteenth) to supply in a rush as their lone particular person NCAA scorer Caroline Bentz has transferred to ASU. -SK

#24: Utah Utes + 1 (2024 NCAA Rank: 25)

Worldwide divers Emilia Nilsson Garip and Holley Waxman scored all of Utah’s 23 factors final season. By scoring on all three boards, Waxman is the workforce’s first lady to earn All-American standing 3 times on the similar meet and their first athlete to take action in additional than 30 years. With each factors scorers returning, Utah appears certain for one more prime 25 end. -SK

#23: Minnesota Golden Gophers -3 (2024 NCAA Rank: 20)

Megan Van Berkom’s commencement stings, however Minnesota nonetheless has robust divers who’ve confirmed they will rating at NCAAs. That retains them ranked in my e-book. -SK 

#22: Alabama Crimson Tide +1 (2024 NCAA Rank: 23)

Alabama was within the technique of creating a pleasant little dash core final season, although that was derailed a bit by Jada Scott‘s harm. She’s on the roster for this season, although we’ll have to attend and see how her restoration continues. But when the sprinters like Kailyn Winter and Cadence Vincent might be at their finest at NCAAs and be a part of Avery Wiseman in placing factors on the board, Alabama may break into the highest 20. -SK

#21: UCLA Bruins +1 (2024 NCAA Rank: 22)

This part of my energy rankings is dominated by the groups that rating their NCAA factors on the boards. However what units UCLA aside is that they’ve swimmers who can rating too. Paige Maceachern and Rosie Murphy return after making IM finals final 12 months and serving to the Bruins to their highest NCAA end since 2019. 

#20: LSU Tigers +1 (2024 NCAA Rank: 21)

Montserrat Lavenant returning for a fifth-year is purpose sufficient to have LSU ranked. In fact, they’ll welcome any extra factors they get, however Lavenant alone can maintain the Tigers within the prime 25. -SK 

#19: Purdue Boilermakers -1 (2024 NCAA Rank: 18)

Purdue returns two of their three NCAA scoring divers from final 12 months. At a championships with a powerhouse workforce like Virginia dominating the factors, two scorers ought to safely put a workforce within the prime 25. -SK

#18: —

(Tie) #17: UNC Tar Heels — (2024 NCAA Rank: 17)

Aranza Vazquez Montano is again for a fifth 12 months. She’s a four-time NCAA champion on the boards and might be relied on for 30+ factors by herself. -SK

(Tie) #17: Auburn Tigers +2 (2024 NCAA Rank: 19)

All 5 relays scored for Auburn final 12 months, which is able to at all times put a workforce solidly inside the highest 25. That they had a number of near-misses for NCAA finals final season, and changing on a few these would push them up the rankings. -SK

#16: Duke Blue Devils — (2024 NCAA Rank: 16)

I’m excited to see what Kaelyn Gridley brings this season after her breakthrough second at U.S. Olympic Trials this summer time. -SK 

#15: Texas A&M Aggies -1 (2024 NCAA Rank: 14)

It is a transition 12 months for the Aggies as long-time girls’s head coach Steve Bultman retired and the 2 applications are actually mixed beneath Director of Swimming Blaire Anderson. Dropping Miranda Grana to Indiana after such a stellar freshman season is a success, however Chloe Stepanek returning for a fifth 12 months is a lift. -SK 

#14: Georgia Bulldogs -1 (2024 NCAA Rank: 13)

If the mid-distance freestyle crew can all peak at NCAAs, Georgia may transfer up from 14th (the place I’ve ranked them for now). -SK 

#13: Wisconsin Badgers +2 (2024 NCAA Rank: 15)

Maggie Wanezek arrives at a good time to overlap with NCAA Champ Phoebe Bacon. -AP

#12: Ohio State Buckeyes -3 (2024 NCAA Rank: 9)

The Buckeyes are certainly one of a pair groups that graduated a lot of factors in 2024. They’ll want everybody to be at their finest as a way to not plummet down the standings. 

#11: Louisville Cardinals -5 (2024 NCAA Rank: 6)

The Cardinals nonetheless have Gabi Albiero for yet another 12 months, however have quite a lot of work to do after Christiana Regenauer’s commencement to remain within the prime 10. -SK 

#10: Michigan Wolverines +2 (2024 NCAA Rank: 12)

Letitia Sim returns from her redshirt and is the breaststroke increase the workforce wants. -AP

#9: USC Trojans -1 (2024 NCAA Rank: 8)

USC acquired the majority of their 2024 NCAA factors from relays. Whereas they’ve solely misplaced 20 of their particular person factors, the relays ought to as soon as once more energy this workforce at NCAAs. -SK 

#8: California Golden Bears +3 (2024 NCAA Rank: 11)

Mary-Ambre Moluh might be a *lot* of factors. -YL

#7 NC State Wolfpack +2 (2024 NCAA Rank: 9)

Berkoff’s commencement stings however a strong recruiting class offers the workforce one other hope for a prime 10 end. -AP

#6: Indiana Hoosiers +1 (2024 NCAA Rank: 7)

Anna Peplowksi has been on a outstanding enchancment trajectory for the final 12 months and exhibits no indicators of slowing down post-Olympics. -SK

#5: Tennessee Volunteers -1 (2024 NCAA Rank: 4)

Tennessee returns the majority of their particular person factors from final season, together with their factors newly-minted Olympic bronze medallist Mona McSharry. For me, shifting them right down to fifth is much less in regards to the workforce they’ve acquired and extra about how good I feel Stanford will likely be this season. -SK

#4: Florida Gators -1 (2024 NCAA Rank: 3)

The commencement of Isabel Ivey is a big loss. I initially had Florida third and Stanford 4th however it appears to be a toss up. -AP

#3: Stanford Cardinal +2 (2024 NCAA Rank: 5)

Stanford was younger this previous season and had a strong NCAAs. With Torri Huske coming off of a giant summer time, they appear like they’ve the potential to maneuver up -AP

I anticipate Torri Huske to have an enormous NCAA season. That post-Olympics confidence increase isn’t any joke. -YL

#2 Texas Longhorns —  (2024 NCAA Rank: 2)

Texas has misplaced some big-time scorers, together with Kelly Pash, who was their prime NCAA scorer and performed a giant position on the Longhorns relays. Nevertheless, they’ve introduced in a powerful recruiting class and have key swimmers returning for his or her fifth-years, which ought to assist them lock up the #2 spot for one more season. -SK

#1 Virginia Cavaliers — (2024 NCAA Rank: 1)

The Virginia girls are poised for a five-peat. They’ve a powerful returning core highlighted by the Walsh sisters, who every went 3-for-3 at 2024 NCAAs. Plus, they’ve introduced in a powerful recruiting class that features Leah Hayes and Anna Moesch. And the cherry on prime is that Claire Curzan is lastly eligible to race in a Cavaliers cap. -SK

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