Last season, UCLA gymnastics had its most lucrative season since 2018, advancing to the NCAA championships and capturing second place, alongside a pair of individual titles. The roster was headlined by a strong senior class that fortified the squad on and off the mat – stabilizing lineups while cultivating the return of a collaborative, team-oriented culture. The departure of the 2025 seniors leaves holes in the lineup across the board, but an accomplished freshman class with elite experience is poised to make an immediate impact. Daily Bruin Sports Assistant editor Ella Dunderdale reviews potential contributions the incoming crew might make to the 2026 campaign.
Let the floor parties continue
Year after year, the Bruins bring the house down with their exuberant floor routines – at this point, it’s in their DNA.
UCLA finished the 2025 campaign tied for No. 1 in the event, boasting a 49.615 NQS. They also hit a season-high 49.800 total twice, and multiple athletes hit a 9.975-plus mark 10 times throughout the season.
Complementing the scores are unique storylines each gymnast tells through their piece, underscored by dynamic music and captivating choreography orchestrated by associate head coach BJ Das.
But after floor standouts Chae Campbell, Emma Malabuyo and 2025 NCAA floor champion Brooklyn Moors graduated, UCLA has to rely on new contributors to fill those roles.
Freshman Nola Matthews may be the solution.
Echoing UCLA’s dynamic energy, Matthews’ routines are not just about the tumbling passes. The Gilroy, California, local composed a murder-mystery-themed routine, complete with menacing looks and sinister choreography to connect the difficult elements. It bears resemblance to UCLA’s junior Katelyn Rosen, who has performed mystical and witch-themed routines throughout her Bruin tenure.
But do not be mistaken – Matthews’ work features technical precision to accompany the tantalizing story. She took first place at the Winter Cup with a 13.300 mark, raising it to a 13.500 on the first day of the Xfinity United States Gymnastics championships in August.
Winter Cup all-around champion Ashlee Sullivan also brings consistency to the event.
The freshman tied for second on floor at the Winter Cup with a 13.050 and has only grown since then. She notched a 13.750 at the DTB Pokal Mixed Cup and went on to garner 14.000 and 13.800 scores – good for third – at the U.S. championships.
Sullivan’s floor gymnastics are marked by sharp poses and complex acrobatic passes. Her 5.900 difficulty tied for second-highest at the U.S. championships.
And while more complex floor routines often sacrifice cleanliness, Sullivan has the skill set to deliver a polished performance with the pared-down difficulty of the NCAA.
A balancing act
Every championship-caliber beam lineup needs a strong lead-off and anchor to set the tone and finish strong.
But the Bruins lost both of their bookends in the offseason.
The graduation of Emily Lee and Malabuyo means UCLA needs strong beamworkers to compete at the highest stages.
At just 17 years old, freshman Tiana Sumanasekera has already made her presence felt on the apparatus. She earned a spot as a Team USA alternate with a pair of 13.950s at the 2024 Olympic trials and pushed her way into the national spotlight.
And this summer – even while facing an ankle injury that has limited her competition time – the freshman has continued to excel in the event. Sumanasekera recorded a cumulative 27.650 at the USA championships, helping secure sixth place in the event and a spot on the national team.
Although the Pleasanton, California, local has decided to forgo the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships to continue her ankle recovery, she should be healed and ready to compete collegiately in January.
Sumanasekera moves with fluidity and balance on the apparatus, seldom wobbling despite just four inches of space. Under the bright lights of Pauley Pavilion, she will be prepared to handle the pressure and even lead off a successful lineup.
A boost on bars
The Bruins have a love-hate relationship with this event.
In their 2025 season opener, they notched a season-low 48.200 mark – almost a full point under their next-best score on the apparatus. It was also their lowest-ranked event, topping off at No. 8.
However, the crew also notched a season-high 49.575 Feb. 14, and senior Jordan Chiles took the individual bars title at the NCAA championships after earning the Bruins’ first perfect 10 of the season on bars Jan. 18.
With the departure of mainstay Frida Esparza, who tied for No. 7 nationally in the regular season with a NQS of 9.940, UCLA is in need of another athlete to stabilize the lineup.
Enter Jordis Eichman.
The freshman favors bars and logs consistent figures to match. It was her highest scoring event both days at the U.S. championships, leading her to a 26.400 combined total that ranked eighth overall.
Eichman tied for sixth on bars at the U.S. Classic in July, with an execution score of 8.000. The event is her most difficult, with a 5.4 mark that features clean pirouettes and release moves punctuated with difficult connections she completes with ease.
Gymnasts often struggle with timing on bars – with nerves often leading to rushing, which induces mistakes and reduced cleanliness. Eichman, however, fights the urge to speed through, maintaining consistent timing that lets her hold handstands and keep her legs glued together with pointed toes.
Eichman’s talent on the apparatus could provide the Bruins with a much-needed bars boost this season.
A vault in the right direction
Success often comes down to sticking the landing.
And UCLA’s incoming quartet of elite vaulters has delivered solid scores, positioning the Bruins to climb from their No. 7 finish in 2025.
At the elite level, Sullivan and Sumanasekera compete the Yurchenko double full, valued at 5.0 difficulty, while Matthews and Eichman deliver the Yurchenko full at 4.2.
In NCAA competition, the double full carries a 10.000 start value, putting the former pair in a strong position to contend for lineup spots this winter if they can keep their landings fresh.
Sullivan even stuck her landing at the U.S. Classic, underscoring her readiness to transition to the NCAA. With a powerful block, the freshman generates the height and distance to finish her vault strong, earning a 9.200 execution score.
Though it may seem simple, sticking the landing requires a blend of precision: pushing off the center of the table, generating enough height to pack in twists and maintaining posture in the air – all in seconds. Any correction on a landing that drifts too far forward or backward can spell disaster.
If consistency follows, vault may no longer be a weak spot for the Bruins.
