Final X is Saturday, June 14, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, and will be streamed LIVE on FloWrestling. Final X determines the 2025 U.S. Senior World teams in two Olympic disciplines: men’s and women’s freestyle.

Below is a women’s freestyle preview of the 53-kilogram match between Brianna Gonzalez and Felicity Taylor. 

Key Credentials

Brianna Gonzalez, 20
2025 US Open champion
2024 NCWWC finalist
2x NCWWC All-American
2024 U20 World Teamer

Felicity Taylor, 24
2x NCWWC (NCAA) champion (2021, 2024)
5x college national finalist (2019-22, ‘24)
2x U23 World Teamer (2019, 2022)
2x Senior National Team (2022, 2024)

Match History

Series Tied: 2-2
2024 NCWWC Regional Final: Gonzalez over Taylor, 9-3
2024 NCWWC Championships final: Taylor over Gonzalez, 9-2
2024 Olympic Trials Consolation Round 3: Taylor over Gonzalez, 9-4
2025 US Open finals: Gonzalez over Taylor, 6-5

How They Reached Final X

Gonzalez reached Final X by winning this year’s US Open. She entered as the seventh seed and won 11-2 over Jaslynn Gallegos (R16), 3-0 over Katie Gomez (quarters), 13-2 over Sage Mortimer (semis), and 6-5 over Felicity Taylor (finals). 

Taylor reached Final X by winning the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament. She entered as the top seed and won 10-0 over Sydney Petzinger (semis) and 13-1 over Sage Mortimer (finals).

What Can You Expect?

This best-of-three series has it all with former Iowa Hawkeye teammates facing off for the fifth, sixth, and possibly seventh time. 

Taylor wrestled at 123 pounds for most of her super senior season at Iowa before dropping to 116 for the Grand View Open, NCWWC regionals, and the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships. Standing in her way was Gonzalez, a freshman teammate, who started the entire season. 

Gonzalez dominated the regional final, 9-3, before Taylor turned the tables for a 9-2 victory in the national finals. Taylor secured a second win a few weeks later at the Olympic Trials. Gonzalez evened the series with a come-from-behind 6-5 win in the 2025 US Open finals. 

Both train in the Iowa City area but compete for different clubs: Gonzalez for the Iowa Women’s Wrestling Club and Taylor for Big Game. 

Gonzalez was a surprise US Open champion after finishing fifth at the 2025 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships and third at U23 Nationals. Taylor was forced into the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament after falling to Gonzalez, but looked inspired by notching two dominant technical superiorities. 

Taylor raced to a 4-0 lead during their last match, using short offense and stuffing an extended shot by Gonzalez. The El Monte, California, native used a straight single to the left side in the second, scoring two takedowns and a turn before Taylor scored a one-point reversal. 

Each match has been different, so game planning and adjustments are paramount.

Can Taylor get to her front headlock and score on go-behinds?

Can Gonzalez hit her single from space? 

And can both wrestlers get to their turns?

The answers will determine who makes this year’s World Team. 

Gonzalez looked sharp during her 3-0 quarterfinal win at the 2025 US Open

Taylor reached Final X with this 13-2 win