Florida transfer Nya Reed to join UCLA gymnastics

The Bruins just bolstered their weakest event as the 2024 season approaches.

Graduate student Nya Reed will use her fifth and final year of eligibility to transfer from Florida to UCLA gymnastics, the team announced Thursday morning. The vault and floor specialist last competed in 2022 and was a six-time All-American in her four seasons with the Gators. 

“Our staff and team are thrilled to welcome Nya to the Bruin Family,” said coach Janelle McDonald in a statement. “In connecting with her this summer, it was evident to me that her energy, experience, growth mindset and big goals would be the perfect match for our team.”

Reed began her 2022 season with eight scores on floor that were 9.950 or higher, including two 10s. She never scored lower than a 9.900 on the event, including a 9.9125 at the NCAA championships. The Maryland native also matched or exceeded the 9.900 mark on vault eight times that year.

The Bruins will welcome Reed’s 10.0 start value and high scores on vault, as their No. 11 ranking on the event was their lowest of the four events in 2023. UCLA’s vault rotations often featured just two 10.0 start values and only reached the 49.500 mark twice.

“I’m excited to welcome Nya to Westwood and have her a part of helping us build this next chapter of UCLA Gymnastics,” McDonald said.

With Jordan Chiles leaving Westwood for elite competition in preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics, Reed could slot in and replace the silver medalist’s 10.0 start value from the get-go.

Though the Bruins enjoyed a No.1 ranking on floor in 2023, Reed’s floor expertise will also be added to its floor lineup with Chiles exiting the program and Margzetta Frazier’s status for the upcoming season still up in the air.

Reed’s other accomplishments include four SEC Specialist of the Week awards and 2022 All-SEC honors. She will join Chloe Lashbrooke and Emma Andres – who previously announced their returns to the program – as fifth-years on UCLA’s squad.