UCLA, Michigan State Gymnastics Clash in Historic Fox Broadcast

WESTWOOD, Calif. — For the first time in NCAA women’s gymnastics history, a meet will be broadcast live on Fox as No. 6 UCLA hosts No. 5 Michigan State on Saturday afternoon at Pauley Pavilion. The highly anticipated matchup features two of the nation’s top programs and marks a milestone for the sport’s growing popularity.

The Bruins and Spartans, both undefeated in the Big Ten Conference, boast the top four all-around gymnasts in the league. UCLA’s Jordan Chiles, a 2024 Olympic gold medalist, and Michigan State’s Sage Kellerman, a standout vaulter, headline the competition. The meet, set for 5:30 p.m. ET, could determine the Big Ten regular-season title.

“To be able to be one of the teams that gets to be [competing for] the first time on Fox, I think that’s a pretty exciting thing,” said Janelle McDonald, UCLA’s third-year head coach. “We get to be the team that gets to show, hopefully, a whole new audience what NCAA gymnastics is about.”

Michigan State, the reigning Big Ten champion, enters the meet with a strong vault lineup, including Kellerman and Nikki Smith, who rank among the nation’s best. The Spartans also excel on bars and beam, with Giana Kalefe and Delanie Harkness leading the charge. Skyla Schulte, the 2024 Big Ten All-Around Champion, has returned to form after an injury and will be a key competitor on floor exercise.

UCLA, meanwhile, has rebounded from a slow start to the season, posting three consecutive scores of 197 or higher. Chiles, a fan favorite, has been a consistent performer, earning a perfect 10.0 on bars earlier this season. Freshman Macy McGowan has also impressed, hitting 12 of 12 routines in her debut season.

“She innately has competitive greatness in her,” McDonald said of McGowan. “She gets to meets and she locks in. There’s a spark in her eye when she’s out there competing.”

Senior Emma Malabuyo, a two-time All-American and 2024 Olympian, has been a steady presence for UCLA, particularly on balance beam, where she ranks third nationally. “Honestly, we are just grazing the surface of what we’re capable of,” Malabuyo said. “I think we can even get better and better.”

The historic broadcast comes amid a surge in gymnastics’ popularity. Attendance records have fallen across the country, with Michigan State drawing a record crowd of 10,000 for its rivalry meet against Michigan earlier this season. UCLA, a perennial powerhouse, has also seen increased interest, with its meets frequently going viral on social media.

As the sport continues to grow, Saturday’s meet represents a pivotal moment. “We’re really excited about where we’re at, but we still have a lot of work to do,” McDonald said. “We want to make sure that when the season is wrapping up, we’re where we want to be and we’re the team that we want to be.”