The previous Olympic quad has been — by far — the best era for women’s freestyle wrestling in U.S. history. But did it produce the country’s best World Team?

Below is a list of the five best U.S. women’s World Teams — in order — based on historical significance, results, and quality of competition. The first women's freestyle World Championships were held in 1987, and the United States entered for the first time in 1989. 

5. 2023 World Team

Team finish: 2nd
Medal percentage: 70
Gold medal percentage: 10

50 kg: Sarah Hildebrandt - Bronze
53 kg: Dom Parrish - 22nd
55 kg: Jacarra Winchester - Silver
57 kg: Helen Maroulis - Bronze
59 kg: Jennifer Page - Bronze
62 kg: Kayla Miracle - 14th
65 kg: Macey Kilty - Silver
68 kg: Emma Bruntil - 5th
72 kg: Amit Elor - Gold
76 kg: Adeline Gray - Bronze

Amit Elor was the lone gold medalist on a team stacked with proven talent. Six of the 10 participants (Hildebrandt, Parrish, Winchester, Maroulis, Elor, and Gray) have a gold medal on their resume, and Miracle is a two-time World silver medalist. Page cut from 62 to 59 to win her first and only (as of now) World medal. Emma Bruntil was in a medal match, giving the United States high hopes entering the 2024 Olympics, where the team won two gold medals, a silver, and a bronze out of six weights. 

4. 2021 World Team

Team Finish: 2nd
Medal percentage: 70
Gold medal percentage: 20

50 kg: Sarah Hildebrandt, Silver
53 kg: Amy Fearnside, 13th
55 kg: Jenna Burkert, Bronze
57 kg: Helen Maroulis, Gold
59 kg: Maya Nelson, 5th
62 kg: Kayla Miracle, Silver
65 kg: Forrest Molinari, Bronze
68 kg: Tamyra Mensah-Stock, Bronze
72 kg: Kylie Welker, 10th
76 kg: Adeline Gray, Gold

The United States was riding high after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics held in 2021. Every Olympic medalist received an automatic berth to the World Championships (Oct. 2-10), held two months after the Olympics (Aug. 1-7). Japan was missing a few of its stars, but the United States had an impressive performance, highlighted by gold medalists Helen Maroulis and Adeline Gray. 

Sarah Hildebrandt reached the finals after winning bronze at the Olympics, and Jenna Burkert defeated 2019 World champion Jacarra Winchester at the World Team Trials, leading to the first and only medal of her career. 

Tamyra Mensah-Stock won the previous World Championships and Olympic Games but was pinned in the semifinals before bouncing back for bronze. Forrest Molinari secured her lone World medal, and Kayla Miracle reached the finals. Maya Nelson was in a medal match, and teenager Kylie Welker eventually won a bronze medal at the 2024 World Championships. 

3. 1999 World Team

Team finish: 1st
Medal percentage: 50
Gold medal percentage: 33

46 kg: Tricia Saunders, Gold
51 kg: Stephanie Murata, 4th
56 kg: Tina George, 6th
62 kg: Lauren Lamb, 5th
68 kg: Sandra Bacher, Gold
75 kg: Kristie Davis, Silver

The United States notched its first World Team title in 1999. The Americans outpaced Japan, 47-46, in the final team standings thanks to gold medals from Tricia Saunders and Sandra Bacher, and a silver medal from Kristie Davis. Stephanie Murata finished fourth when only one bronze medal was awarded. 

This team was a victim of timing, as only six weights were contested, and the biggest bracket included 16 participants. These women should be celebrated as the only (as of 2024) U.S. team to win a team title at the World Championships. 

2. 2022 World Team

Team finish: 2nd
Medal percentage: 70 percent
Gold medal percentage: 30

50 kg: Sarah Hildebrandt, Bronze
53 kg: Dom Parrish, Gold
55 kg: Jacarra Winchester, 5th
57 kg: Helen Maroulis, Silver
59 kg: Abby Nette, 10th
62 kg: Kayla Miracle, Silver
65 kg: Mallory Velte, Bronze
68 kg: Tamyra Mensah-Stock, Gold
72 kg: Amit Elor, Gold
76 kg: Dymond Guilford, 19th

The United States was rolling in 2022 thanks to 18-year-old Amit Elor, who was rewriting the record book. She became the youngest American to win the World Championships and the first to win a U20, U23, and Senior World title in the same year. Dom Parrish was a breakout star who secured gold at 53 kg, and Tamyra Mensah-Stock ended her career as a three-time World and Olympic champion. 

Hildebrandt won her fourth World/Olympic medal, Maroulis her eighth, with Miracle and Velte winning their second. Winchester, a 2019 World champion, was in a medal match.

1. 2003 World Team

Team finish: 2nd
Medal percentage: 100
Gold medal percentage: 10

48 kg: Patricia Miranda, Silver
51 kg: Jenny Wong, Bronze
55 kg: Tina George, Silver
59 kg: Sally Roberts, Bronze
63 kg: Sara McMann, Silver
67 kg: Kristie Davis, Gold
72 kg: Toccara Montgomery, Silver

Despite only seven contested weights, the United States won a medal at every weight during the 2003 World Championships in New York City. The team tied Japan — 62-62 — but lost on criteria (5 gold medals to 1). 

Kristie Davis notched the lone gold medal for the Americans, but Patricia Miranda, Tina George, Sara McMann, and Toccara Montgomery reached the finals. Jenny Wong and Sally Roberts won bronze medals when only one was awarded. 

The U.S. team proved itself several weeks later by knocking off Japan in Japan at the World Cup, making this a team worthy of top honors.