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American Athletic, Inc. (AAI) announced the 2026 AAI Award nominees on Monday.

Forty-five female athletes are nominated for this year’s award, which is presented to the most outstanding collegiate senior female gymnast in the country. AAI has been awarding this honor since 1982.

Last year’s finalists included Jordan Bowers (Oklahoma), Jade Carey (Oregon State), Audrey Davis (Oklahoma), Aleah Finnegan (LSU), Grace McCallum (Utah), and Leanne Wong(Florida).

Carey ultimately took home the title of the 2025 AAI Award winner.

This year, Florida, Northern Illinois, and Michigan State lead the nominations with three apiece.

NCAA head coaches are asked to submit a nomination for the candidate or candidates of their choice. After the initial nominations, the field is narrowed to the top 6 athletes before the winner is announced the week of nationals.

Note: Some athletes are nominated again as fifth years/graduate students.

See below for this year’s list of nominees in alphabetical order.

2026 AAI Award Nominees

  • Ciena Alipio – UCLA
  • Luciana Alvarado-Reid – Central Michigan
  • Carly Bauman – Michigan
  • Avery Bibbey – Utah State
  • Alea Byrne – Illinois
  • Jordan Chiles – UCLA
  • Brie Clark – Clemson
  • Cecilia Cooley – Denver
  • Ariana DeSouza – Alaska
  • Kylie Eaquinto – BYU
  • Gwen Fink – North Carolina
  • eMjae Frazier – Florida
  • Gabby Gladieux – Alabama
  • Hannah Hagle – Auburn
  • Jocelyn Harbeck – Northern Illinois
  • Selena Harris-Miranda – Florida
  • Kara Houghton – Sac State
  • Sage Kellerman – Michigan State
  • Abigail Kenney – Bridgeport
  • Skyelar Kerico – Penn
  • Madeline Komoroski – Maryland
  • Addison Lawrence – Missouri
  • Gianna Masella – Iowa
  • Riley McCusker – Florida
  • Isabella Minervini – Towson
  • Deiah Moody – Washington
  • Sarah Moraw – Minnesota
  • Serena Mullin – New Hampshire
  • Lana Navarro – Washington
  • Samantha Nickle – Northern Illinois
  • Kiera O’Shea – Northern Illinois
  • Ava Piedrahita – Penn State
  • Morgan Price – Arkansas
  • Anna Roberts – Stanford
  • Nikki Smith – Michigan State
  • Kimberly Smith – Arizona State
  • Leah Smith – Arkansas
  • Makenna Smith – Utah
  • Emma Strom – Arizona
  • Elise Tisler – Missouri
  • Faith Torrez – Oklahoma
  • Lilly Tubbs – Washington
  • Tory Vetter – Ohio State
  • Kami Zarlengo – Texas Woman’s
  • Olivia Zsarmani – Michigan State