AP/Lang
1/18/25
The NCAA added women’s wrestling as a sport Friday, bringing its total number of championships to 91.
The sanctioning body approved the addition at the annual convention in Nashville, Tennessee.
Women’s wrestling had been under the “emerging sports for women” banner. Now, female athletes from Division I, II and III will compete against each other for titles. The NCAA’s first women’s wrestling championship will take place in 2026.
Women’s wrestling is the sixth emerging sport to earn NCAA championship status. Since the emerging sports program was established in 1994, five women’s sports have earned NCAA championship status: rowing (1996), ice hockey (2000), water polo (2000), bowling (2003) and beach volleyball (2015).
The top-ranked Iowa women’s wrestling team hosts No. 4 Grand Valley State and Augustana College tonight in its final home dual of the season inside of Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Action will begin at 5:30 pm with a neutral site dual between Augustana and Grand Valley State. The Hawkeyes will take the mat at approximately 6 p.m.