This post was updated Dec. 31 at 2:36 p.m.

No. 4 UCLA gymnastics returns to competition after a historic 2025 run that culminated in its program-first Big Ten title and an NCAA championship runner-up finish. However, this season’s team has transformed, since the squad lost eight gymnasts and signed seven newcomers. But despite the turnover, this squad does not lack talent. At UCLA’s annual Meet the Bruins showcase, the squad flashed versatile ability, giving fans a taste of what is to come.

As the team prepares for its season-opening Best of the West Quad Meet on Saturday, Assistant Sports editor Ella Dunderdale breaks down the potential vault and bars lineups, contributor Hannah Westerhold discusses beam potential and contributor Finn Karish analyzes possible 2026 floor options.

Vault lineup: Katelyn Rosen, Mika Webster-Longin, Ashlee Sullivan, Tiana Sumanasekera, Riley Jenkins, Jordan Chiles

This year’s squad is positioned to deliver something new: a slate of 10.0 start-value vaults.

Sophomore Riley Jenkins and junior Katelyn Rosen executed the Yurchenko 1.5 at Meet the Bruins, with Jenkins sticking her landing cold. Jenkins fought her way into the lineup last season following an injury, logging at least a 9.800 five times. And although Rosen stepped back from the apparatus for her sophomore season, the Boerne, Texas, local was a staple in 2024, never falling below 9.825 and hitting the 9.900 mark thrice.

Sophomore Mika Webster-Longin grew into a lineup linchpin last season, notching a career-high 9.950 at the NCAA regional final to help clinch a national championship bid. Although the Belgian National Team member competed the 9.50 start value Yurchenko full at Meet the Bruins, she regularly competed the Yurchenko 1.5 last season, sticking a handful of landings.

While senior Jordan Chiles did not compete the event at Meet the Bruins, she will be a lineup staple, competing a 10.0 start value Yurchenko half followed by front tuck half last season.

The squad also brings a crop of new talent to the table, with freshmen Tiana Sumanasekera and Ashlee Sullivan competing the 10.0 start value Yurchenko double full throughout their elite summer competitions. The squad will also boast sophomore Macy McGowan and her Yurchenko 1.5 as a back-pocket option once she recovers from injury.

Bars lineup: Katelyn Rosen, Macy McGowan, Ashlee Sullivan, Sasha Fujisaka, Nola Matthews, Jordan Chiles

Bars has consistently been UCLA’s weakness.

But the squad could flip the script this season.

Fourteen Bruins are vying for spots, which means the rotation will likely evolve as the season progresses.

One of the few athletes certain to make the cut is Chiles, who was the NCAA bars champion in 2023 and 2025. The senior has achieved perfection five times and will likely continue to anchor the lineup.

There are a handful of freshmen who could make an immediate impact, including Sullivan, who logged the top score of 14.050 en route to her title at the Arthur Gander Memorial Tournament. Freshman Nola Matthews has also shined on the event, winning gold at the 2025 Varna World Challenge Cup, the 2023 Pan American Championships and the 2022 Winter Cup.

Rosen will also likely be a consistent contributor in 2026, sticking her landing at Meet the Bruins. The junior has fallen below 9.800 just once throughout her collegiate career, offering veteran experience. McGowan’s potential – she hit a career-high 9.900 twice – could also factor into the lineup.

After suffering a knee injury in the 2024 preseason, sophomore Sasha Fujisaka could finally shine. The San Jose local was the Region 1 uneven bars champion in 2021 and 2023 and won the California state championship on the event in 2024.

The Bruins will have depth to pull from on bars. Senior Ciena Alipio worked throughout the offseason to add bars to her skillset, Webster-Longin notched a 9.850 or higher eight times in 2025 and freshman Jordis Eichman has displayed elite skill on the event.

Beam lineup: Katelyn Rosen, Ashlee Sullivan, Mika Webster-Longin, Tiana Sumanasekera, Jordan Chiles, Ciena Alipio

With the graduation of Emily “Lee-doff” Lee and anchor Emma Malabuyo, two crucial spots in the beam lineup are up for grabs.

And Rosen is no stranger to opening a lineup. The junior led off eight floor lineups last season and followed Lee in the second spot in seven of her eight beam lineup appearances.

Alipio provided late-lineup stability in the fifth lineup position in every meet last season and is poised to step in as the anchor in 2026. The San Jose local notched her first career 10 at the Big Ten Championships, and Rosen posted a season-high 9.925 at the same meet – both helping the Bruins secure the team title.

Chiles will also provide additional late-lineup consistency on the event, with a career-high 9.975 notched in 2023. The senior delivered a 9.872 average last season, logging a 9.950 on April 3 at the NCAA Regional competition.

A talented underclassmen group could round out the remaining spots. Sullivan won the beam title at the 2025 U.S. Classic and has earned hardware at multiple Winter Cups. Fellow freshman Sumanasekera finished third on beam at the 2024 Olympic Trials and claimed gold at the 2023 Pan American Championships. And while Webster-Longin only appeared in the lineup once last season, she boasted a strong showing on the apparatus at Meet the Bruins.

Floor lineup: Macy McGowan, Nola Matthews, Ashlee Sullivan, Katelyn Rosen, Tiana Sumanasekera, Jordan Chiles

UCLA led the nation on floor in 2025. But with the graduation of Chae Campbell, Malabuyo and Brooklyn Moors, it is time for a shake-up.

Leading the returners will be fan-favorite Chiles, a lock in the lineup. The Olympic gold medalist and now-senior led the nation in 2025 with a 9.970 NQS and was the 2023 NCAA floor national champion. McGowan averaged over 9.850 on the apparatus in her first season and competed in all but two meets, making her a likely contender in 2026 once healthy. Webster-Longin also averaged just over 9.850 in 2025 and will look to break more consistently into the lineup this year.

Rosen will likely round out the returning crop. The junior debuted a new rapper-inspired routine at Meet the Bruins, scored a 9.800 or higher on all but one routine last season and will be itching to bring her new choreography to the floor party.

Three fresh faces in Westwood – Matthews, Sullivan and Sumanasekera – will bring U.S. National Team experience to the floor rotation. With Matthews’ commanding two-pass routine, Sullivan’s powerful Britney Spears performance and Sumanasekera’s routine rooted in her Sri Lankan heritage, the baby Bruins will be a force to be reckoned with on the floor this season.