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 68-kilogram match between Kennedy Blades and Brooklyn Hays. 

Key Credentials

Kennedy Blades, 21
2025 Pan-Am champion
2025 US Open champion
2025 NCWWC (NCAA) champion
2024 Olympic silver medalist
2023 U23 World silver medalist
2023 U20 World silver medalist
2021 Junior World champion

Brooklyn Hays, 21
2x U23 National champion (2024, 2025)
2025 U23 Pan-Am champion
2024 Pan-Am champion
2023 NCWWC (NCAA) All-American (6th)
2022 Junior National champion

Match History

Blades leads, 1-0

2023 U20 World Team Trials semifinals: Blades over Hays, 10-0

How They Reached Final X

Blades reached Final X by winning the US Open. She entered as the one seed and won 13-0 over Alexandra Lopez (quarters), 10-0 over Noelle Gaffney (semis), 10-0 over Solin Piearcy (finals). 

Hays reached Final X by winning the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament. She entered as the two seed and won 4-2 over Latifah McBryde (semis) and 4-0 over Solin Piearcy (finals). 

What Should You Expect? 

Hays has an unmatched zest for life. Win or lose, the Lindon, Utah, native is always smiling and happy to be on the mat. She was thrilled to reach Final X after winning the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, giving an excitable interview following her 4-0 win over Solin Piearcy.

Blades likes to have fun, too. And she likes to throw her opponents. Spectacular five-point belly-to-back suplays have become commonplace, and it has made her one of the most popular wrestlers in the world. 

The Chicago, Illinois, native is an exceptional wrestler with fast, powerful moves. Blades won an Olympic silver medal at 76 kg but was undersized for the weight. She naturally dropped to 68 kg this year, giving up an automatic Final X berth at the heaviest women’s freestyle class. 

So far, so good for the 2025 USA Wrestling Women’s College Wrestler of the Year. She outscored three opponents 33-0 at the US Open, then won the Pan-Am Championships a few days later. 

Hays is a student of the sport, recognized by coaches and teammates as a diligent worker. It will take a world-class game plan and a brilliant match strategy to knock off Blades. 

Winning one match over Blades is challenging enough. Winning two matches might be an impossible mission. 

Just know that Hays will have the time of her life as she attempts one of the biggest upsets in wrestling history. 

Watch every Kennedy Blades match at the 2025 US Open

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Hays reached Final X with this 4-0 win at the 2025 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament.