Ending their inaugural Big Ten season as conference champions may seem like the Bruins’ season-defining moment.

But the impact left on the conference may imprint a legacy much greater than a championship trophy.

UCLA gymnastics walked into the Big Ten as newcomers, but its debut run has seemingly shifted the landscape of the conference. The Bruins not only entered the Big Ten with the most national titles but left its first campaign with the highest team score in the conference’s championship history.

“Being in the Big Ten this year has been amazing,” said coach Janelle McDonald. “We’ve had so many great meets across the country – a lot of getting to go to a lot of new places, our team getting to perform in front of people they’ve never seen before.”

The squad did not just compete, but it also seemed to bring the “Pauley Pavilion” magic along with it as it traveled to new Big Ten schools.

UCLA’s regular season included away trips to four fellow Big Ten schools, including Maryland, Washington, Michigan and Ohio State. And wherever the Bruins’ went, gymnastics fans followed. At each of the four schools, the Bruins’ arrival brought the opposing team’s largest home crowds of 2025.

On Jan. 18, UCLA journeyed to College Park, where it drew 7,287 fans to the Xfinity Center – over 5,000 more fans than Maryland’s old attendance record of 2,207 achieved in 2015.

This season, the Terps have an average home attendance of 2,285 fans – more than double their 2024 average home attendance of 1,075.

“If you can get people to a meet, they’re probably going to come back and bring two friends,” McDonald said. “It’s show-stopping, fun, energy, amazing athleticism – and so it’s really cool to see our sport elevating on that stage.”

And whom might that increase be attributed to?

The return of Jordan Chiles.

After deferring the 2024 season to train for the Paris Olympics, the junior returned to Westwood and posted three perfect scores this season, including on floor last weekend at the Big Ten Championships.

“Your stands are filled, and your fans are cheering and they’re up on their feet before they’ve even started,” said Minnesota coach Jenny Hansen. “Those are memories that our student-athletes will have for the rest of their lives.”

The conferencewide attendance boosts also signified a need for upgraded facilities. On Jan. 17, Michigan State hosted Michigan for the in-state rivals’ annual dual meet in a larger, upgraded venue.

Since the establishment of Michigan State’s gymnastics program in 1972, the squad has hosted its competitions in Jenison Field House, which has the capacity for 5,017 spectators. But this year, the Spartans’ hosted their in-state rivals in the Breslin Center – an arena equipped to hold 14,759 fans.

The meet drew in 6,251 fans – Michigan State’s highest home attendance in program history.

“We’re always trying to enhance the student-athlete experience,” said Michigan State coach Mike Rowe. “When they go into arenas weekend after weekend after weekend and see this kind of thing, it’s electric for them.”

UCLA also broke attendance records back in Westwood. At its last home meet of the season March 9, the squad set a new record with 12,918 fans – breaking the previous high of 12,907 that UCLA set in 2019.

And attendance is not the only measure of UCLA’s impact on the Big Ten this season. Eight Bruins were chosen for All-Big Ten teams, the most of any other conference opponent.

The Bruins have also made their mark nationally, with six gymnasts accumulating 10 All-America honors this season – the most gymnasts nominated from any one school in the country.

While the competitiveness of a new conference could be a motivator to succeed, the camaraderie in the Big Ten kept the Bruins energized over the course of the season.

“I could not be more grateful for this conference,” McDonald said. “Every single place we’ve visited, we’ve been so welcomed.”