The 2025 Women’s World Wrestling Championships are September 15-18, live on FloWrestling. Below is everything you need to know to follow the event. Watch the above video for a breakdown of the World Championships with Reese Larramendy. 

Click here for the Women's College Wrestling Fan Guide To The 2025 World Championships.
Click here for a preview of Japan's 2025 World Team.
Click here to see every U.S. women's freestyle World and Olympic teamer.

Schedule

Monday, September 15
4:30 a.m. ET – Qualification Rounds: 55, 59 kg
10:00 a.m. ET – Semifinals: 55, 59 kg

Tuesday, September 16
4:30 a.m. ET – Qualification Rounds: 50, 57, 65, 76 kg; Repechage: 55, 59 kg
10:30 a.m. ET – Semifinals: 50, 57, 65, 76 kg
12:00 p.m. ET – Medal Matches: 55, 59 kg

Wednesday, September 17
4:30 a.m. ET – Qualification Rounds: 53, 62, 68, 72 kg; Repechage: 50, 57, 65, 76 kg
10:30 a.m. ET – Semifinals: 53, 62, 68, 72 kg
12:00 p.m. ET – Medal Matches: 50, 57, 65, 76 kg

Thursday, September 18
4:30 a.m. ET – Repechage: 53, 62, 68, 72 kg
12:00 p.m. ET – Medal Matches: 53, 62, 68, 72 kg

Overview

It’s a new look team for Japan at the 2025 World Championships after a stellar 2024 season. The best women’s freestyle country in the world won four gold and two bronze medals at the Olympics, and three gold and one bronze at World Championships (non-Olympic weights). 

That's seven golds and three bronzes in one year. 

The last time Japan lost the World Championships was in 2012 during the non-Olympic World Championships. Before that, it was 2009. In all, Japan has won 27 of 33 World Championships and has never finished lower than third. 

The United States has a mix of seasoned veterans and promising youth. Helen Maroulis (57 kg) turns 34 on September 19 and continues to defy age. The four-time World and Olympic champion dominated her most recent ranking series tournament and looks as good as she has since outscoring her opponents 52-0 at the 2017 World Championships. 

Jacarra Winchester (59 kg), a 2019 World champion and 2023 World silver medalist at 55 kg, will seek her first medal at a new weight. Kennedy Blades (68 kg) was a 2024 Olympic silver medalist at 76 kg, and Kylie Welker (76 kg) was a 2024 World bronze medalist at 72 kg. Both are in their early 20s but are established stars. 

Macey Kilty (65 kg) is among the most consistent wrestlers in the world, winning a silver medal at the 2023 Worlds and bronze in 2024. She has won seven age-level and senior World medals.

Senior World Championship newcomers Audrey Jimenez (50 kg), Felicity Taylor (53 kg), Cristelle Rodriguez (55 kg), Adaugo Nwachukwu (62 kg), and Alex Glaude (72 kg) are the next wave of U.S. stars. All five have made age-level World teams, and Taylor is the only one who hasn’t won a medal. 

Despite a new look team, Japan is the favorite with the United States, China, Ukraine, and India giving chase. 

Seeds are based on rankings series points, so don’t read too much into where a wrestler is (or isn’t positioned in the tournament). The best wrestler in the field may have switched weights and didn’t qualify for a seed. 

50 kg

US entry: Audrey Jimenez

Top eight seeds
1. Oksana Livach (UKR)
2. Evin Demirhan (TUR)
3. Gabija Dilyte (LTU)
4. Madison Parks (CAN)
5. Svetlana Ankicheva (KAZ)
6. Munkhnar Byambasuren (MGL)
7. Audrey Jimenez (USA)
8. Remina Yoshimoto (JPN)

Unseeded
Cheima Chebila (ALG)
Kamila Barbosa (BRA)
Yu Zhang (CHN)
Jacqueline Mollocana (ECU)
Aintzane Gorria Goni (ESP)
Ankush (IND)
Emanuela Liuzzi (ITA)
Jinhee Kim (KOR)
Miesinnei Genesis (NGR)
Myonggyong Won (PRK)
Chahrazed Ayachi (TUN)
Elizaveta Smirnova (UWW)
Natallia Varakina (UWW)
Aktenge Keunimjaeva (UZB)
Nohalis Loyo Jimenez (VEN)

The field is wide open with several of last year’s stars, including Olympic gold medalists Yui Susaki and Sarah Hildebrandt, vacating the weight (for now). Yoshimoto is seeded eighth but is the likely favorite. She is a 2021 World champion who defeated Hildebrandt in the gold medal finals.

Livach was a 2018 World bronze medalist who has been in three additional medal matches, including two at the Olympics. This is her best opportunity to win an elusive gold medal. Demirhan is the only other Senior World medalist in the field, giving Jimenez a shot at a medal. 

The Lehigh freshman is fresh off a silver medal at the U20 World Championships. She has shown promise all year, including an 18-8 win at the Pan-Am Championships over 2024 Olympic silver medalist Yusneylis Guzman Lopez of Cuba, who is not in the field. Jimenez has five age-level medals, including four silver and one bronze. 

53kg

US Entry: Felicity Taylor

Seeded
1. Lucia Yepez (ECU)
2. Hyogyong Choe (PRK)
3. Zeynep Yetgil (TUR)
4. Antim (IND)
5. Natalia Malysheva (UWW)
6. Annika Wendle (GER)
7. Maria Prevolaraki (GRE)
8. Jonna Malmgren (SWE)

Unseeded
Serena De Benedetto (CAN)
Jin Zhang (CHN)
Laura Herin Avila (CUB)
Carla Jaume Soler (ESP)
Haruna Murayama Okuno (JPN)
Zeinep Bayanova (KAZ)
Seoyoung Park (KOR)
Laura Stanelyte (LTU)
Namuuntsetseg Tsogt Ochir (MGL)
Christianah Ogunsanya (NGR)
Roksana Zasina (POL)
Beatrice Ferent (ROU)
Liliia Malanchuk (UKR)
Felicity Taylor (USA)
Kseniya Stanekvich (UWW)
Shokhida Akhmedova (UZB)

With Japanese superstar Akari Fujimami out of the weight, top-seeded Lucia Yepez is the favorite after winning a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics. Her path to a title won’t be easy, though. 

There are plenty of landmines, highlighted by three-time World champion Haruna Okuno, 2024 Olympic bronze medalist Hyogyong Choe, three-time World bronze medalist Maria Prevoalraki, 2024 World silver medalist Jin Zhang, and 2017 World bronze medalist Roksana Zasina. 

Sweden’s Jonna Malmgren, a two-time age-level World champion, could be a breakout star at the tournament. She has a motor and thrives in tough situations.

There’s a strong U.S. connection, too — with two college national champions from Iowa in the field. Spillville, Iowa, native Felicity Taylor won a 2024 NCWWC title for the University of Iowa, and Christianah Ogunsanya of Nigeria won the 2025 NAIA Championships for William Penn (Oskaloosa, Iowa). 

55kg

U.S. Entry: Cristelle Rodriguez

Seeded
1. Tatiana Debien (FRA)
2. Oleksandra Khomenets (UKR)
3. Karla Godinez (CAN)
4. Ekaterina Verbina (UWW)
5. Elvira Kamaloglu (TUR)
6. Kyong Ryong Oh (PRK)
7. Amory Andrich (GER)
8. Cristelle Rodriguez (USA)

Unseeded
Oleksandra Kogut (AUT)
Xuejing Liang (CHN)
Yaynelis Sanz Verdecia (CUB)
Maria Baez (ESP)
Nishu (IND)
Sowaka Uchida (JPN)
Zulfiya Yakhyarova (KAZ)
Hyerim Lee (KOR)
Mihaela Samoil (MDA)
Khulan Batkhuyag (MGL)
Andreea Ana (ROU)

College wrestling fans should be excited about this weight. Cristelle Rodriguez is a two-time NAIA champion for Doane, Karla Godinez is a two-time NCWWC champion for Simon Fraser, and Victoria Baez is a two-time California Community College champion for Umpqua, who most recently reached the finals of the 2024 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships for King. Baez recently transferred to William Penn. 

Rodriguez, a 2024 U20 World champion, has a good draw as the eighth seed. She could meet 2024 World bronze medalist Tatiana Debien in the quarterfinals, a winnable match for the U.S. star. 

Japan’s Sowaka Uchida competed at 57 kg during the 2025 U20 World Championships, but was injured during her semifinal match and finished fifth, so it’s hard to know where she is physically. 

Godinez won a bronze medal at the 2022 World Championships and is always formidable, but keep an eye on unseeded Khulan BatKhuyag of Mongolia. She finished fifth at the 2024 Olympics and fell to American star Dom Parrish in the 2022 World finals. 

Oleksandra Khomenets, Ekaterina Verbina, and Elvira Kamaloglu have age-level success and are legitimate threats. 

57 kg

U.S. Entry: Helen Maroulis

Seeded
1. Helen Maroulis (USA)
2. Kexin Hong (CHN)
3. Luisa Valverde (ECU)
4. Olga Khoroshavtseva (UWW)
5. Tamara Dollak (HUN)
6. Bolortuya Khurllkhuu (MGL)
7. Youngjin Kwon (KOR)
8. Zhala Aliyeva (AZE)

Unseeded
Samantha Stewart (CAN)
Graciela Sanchez Diaz (ESP)
Jenna Hemiae (FIN)
Tapsya (IND)
Himeka Tokuhara (JPN)
Laura Almagambetova (KAZ)
Bertha Rojas (MEX)
Magdalena Glodek (POL)
Il Sim Son (PRK)
Nethmi Poruthotage (SRI)
Evelina Hulthen (SWE)
Pei Ying Liao (TPE)
Chahd Jeljeli (TUN)
Emine Cakmak (TUR)
Solomiia Vynnyk (UKR)
Iryna Kurachlkina (UWW)

Maroulis qualified for her 15th World/Olympic team, with four gold, two silver, and four bronze medals already on her resume. Could she win another gold in 2025? She blitzed everyone at the Hungarian Open and looks ready for another title run. 

Threats include China’s Kexin Hong, a 2024 Olympic bronze medalist who was up 7-2 in the semis before getting pinned, Japan’s Himeka Tokuhara, a U23 World champion, 2019 World bronze medalist Olga Khoroshavtseva, and Iryna Kurachkina, a three-time World medalist. 

India’s Tapsya won the 2025 U20 World Championships, and Solomiia Vynnyk is a two-time U23 World champion, but, for now, Maroulis is the class of the field. All she has to do is prove it.

59 kg

U.S. Entry: Jacarra Winchester

Seeded
1. Elena Brugger (GER)
2. Erika Bognar (HUN)
3. Laurence Beauregard (CAN)
4. Anastasiia Sidelnikova (UWW)
5. Sakura Onishi (JPN)
6. Bediha Gun (TUR)
7. Jumoke Adekoye (NGR)
8. Altjin Togtokh (MGL)

Unseeded
Victoria Chhen (AUS)
Hiunai Hurbanova (AZE)
Hong Liang (CHN)
Lydia Perez (ESP)
Sarika (IND)
Viktoriia Khusainova (KAZ)
Zeltzin Hernandez (MEX)
Othelie Hoeie (NOR)
Arian Carpio (PHI)
Pyol Hong (PRK)
Mariia Vynnyk (UKR)
Jacarra Winchester (USA)
Nadzeya Bulanaya (UWW)
Laylokhon Sobirova (UZB)

Winchester is a returning World champion but is unseeded since she hasn’t wrestled much at 59 kg. She represented the United States at last year’s World Championships but was defeated in the first round and didn’t get pulled into repechage. 

The U.S. star can compete with anyone in a solid field. Sakura Onishi recently won the U20 World Championships and was the class of the tournament, blitzing her way to gold with crisp leg attacks and tight turns. 

Top-seeded Elena Brugger has been active this season after winning a bronze medal at the 2024 World Championships. Nigerian Jumoke Adekoye won the 131-pound NAIA Championships for Dickinson State over a loaded domestic field, including a victory over U.S. star Xochitl Mota-Pettis in the finals.

62 kg

U.S. Rep: Adaugo Nwachukwu

Seeded
1. Sakura Motoki (JPN)
2. Ana Godinez (CAN)
3. Bilyana Dudova (BUL)
4. Orkhon Purevdorj (MGL)
5. Johanna Lindborg (SWE)
6. Manisha (IND)
7. Amina Tandelova (UWW)
8. Esther Kolawole (NGR)

Unseeded
Birgul Soltanova (AZE)
Lili (CHN)
Nikolett Szaabo (HUN)
Aurora Campagna (ITA)
Tynys Ddubek (KAZ)
Neevis Rodriguez (MEX)
Alicja Nowosad (POL)
Ok Ju Kim (PRK)
Amina Capezan (ROU)
Selvi Ilyasoglu (TUR)
Iryna Bondar (UKR)
Adaugo Nwachukwu (USA)
Veranika Ivanova (UWW)
Astrid Montero (VEN)

Sakura Motokii won the 2024 Olympics, but is seeking her first World gold after silver and bronze. Canadian star Ana Godinez is seeded second and one of the best wrestlers at the tournament without a World medal. She’s competitive in most matches and will be a threat as the two seed. 

Bilyana Dudova was a 2021 World champion who split matches with U.S. star Adaugo Nwachukwu this season at ranking tournaments. Nwachukwu isn’t seeded but can beat anyone in the field, but will need to string together consecutive wins to earn a medal. This is her first Senior World Championships after three age-level competitions, including bronze at the 2022 U20 Worlds. 

Orkhon Purevdorj finished fifth at the 2024 Olympics, dropping two tight matches. Iryna Bondar defeated American Macey Kilty in the 2024 U23 World finals, and Amina Tandelova was a 2023 U23 World silver medalist. 

Pay close attention to Nigeria’s Esther Kolawole and a potential match between Nwachukwu. Both are from Nigeria, and both have a connection to William Penn. Kolawole currently wrestles for the Statesmen, winning the 2025 NAIA Championships, and Nwachukwu won a title there in 2024. Kolawole won a bronze medal at the 2024 U23 World Championships and was ahead of Kilty late before getting pinned in the semis. 

Nwachukwu is unseeded and could meet the eighth-seeded Kolawole as early as the first round. Or, they might be on opposite sides of the bracket and never hit. 

65 kg

U.S. Representative: Macey Kilty

Seeded
1. Miwa Morikawa (JPN)
2. Macey Kilty (USA)
3. Enkhjin Tuvshinjargal (MGL)
4. Kadriye Kocao Aksoy (TUR)
5. Irina Ringaci (MDA)
6. Elma Zeidlere (LAT)
7. Grace Bullen (NOR)
8. Iryna Koliadenki (UKR)

Unseeded
Miki Rowbottom (CAN)
Virginia Jimenez (CHI)
Qi Zhang (CHN)
Vaishnavi Patil (IND)
Subeen Jo (KOR)
Alexis Gomez (MEX)
Aylah Mayali (PLE)
Natalia Kubaty (POL)
Alina Kasabieva (UWW)

This might be the deepest weight of the tournament, with 2022 World champion Miwa Morikawa leading the way. Kilty is as good as anyone, and she has the credentials to prove it. She bagged silver and bronze at the past two World Championships, but will need to overcome Norway’s Grace Bullen in a potential quarterfinal match.

Bullen, a bronze medalist at the 2024 Olympics, was a 2018 WCWA champion for Campbellsville, and she secured a fall over Kilty earlier this year in a wild back-and-forth match. Irina Ringaci, a 2021 World champion, had her battles with Bullen this season, dropping a pair of crazy matches to her Norwegian foe. 

Iryna Koliadenki is a two-time Olympic medalist who fell to Morikawa in the 2024 final, 12-1, and could get a rematch in the quarterfinals. Qi Zhang is a 2023 World champion who knocked off American Jennifer Page in the semis. 

Alexis Gomez of Mexico was a two-time All-American for Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa. 

68 kg

U.S. Representative: Kennedy Blades

Seeded
1. Buse Tosun (TUR)
2. Meerim Zhumanazarova (KGZ)
3. Sol Gum Pak (PRK)
4. Kennedy Blades (USA)
5. Noemi Szabados (HUN)
6. Kateryna Zelenykh (ROU)
7. Delgermaa Enkhsaikhan (MGL)
8. Adela Hanzlickova (CZE)

Unseeded
Albina Drazhi (ALB)
Aniseta Acosta (ASA)
Grabriela Pedro (BRA)
Yuliana Yaneva (BUL)
Jia Long (CHN)
Sophia Schaefle (GER)
Radhika (IND)
Laura Godino (ITA)
Ami Ishii (JPN)
Beibit Seidualy (KAZ)
Hyeonyeong Park (KOR)
Hannah Reeben (NGR)
Tindra Sjoeberg (SWE)
Manola Skovelska (UKR)
Khanum Velieva (UWW)
Nabira Esenbaeva (UZB)

Blades moved down two weights after winning a 76 kg silver medal at the 2024 Olympics. She is seeded fourth and will be among the favorites at her new weight. 

Top-seeded Buse Tosun is a 2023 World champion and bronze medalist at the 2024 Olympics. She is on track to possibly meet Blades in the semifinals. 

Meerim Zhumanazarova won a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics, falling to American star Amit Elor in the finals. Kateryna Zelenykh is moving up from 65 kg after winning silver at the 2024 Worlds, including a win over Kilty. 

Ami Ishii won the 2024 World Championships at 72 kg, with a win over U.S. star Kylie Welker, and is moving down a class. And Jia Long won 65 kg gold at the 2024 World, pinning Zelenyk, but lost to Morikawa in the 2022 World finals.

So, yes, this is a deep field, and the eventual winner will have to beat multiple highly credentialed wrestlers to earn the coveted 68 kg belt. 

72 kg

U.S. Representative: Alex Glaude

Seeded
1. Zhamila Bakbergenova (KAZ)
2. Bolortungalag Zorigt (MGL)
3. Alexandra Anghel (ROU)
4. Pauline Lecarpentier (FRA)
5. Alla Belinska (UKR)
6. Nesrin Bas (TUR)
7. Kseniia Burakova (UWW)
8. Masako Furuichi (JPN)

Unseeded
Zelu Li (CHN)
Rosie Tabora (COD)
Veronika Vilk (CRO)
Jyoti Berwal (IND)
Nurzat Nurtaeva (KGZ)
Jiseon Lee (KOR)
Auguste Gendvilaite (LTU)
Zsuzsanna Molnar (SVK)
Alexandria Glaude (USA)
Svetlana Oknazarova (UZB)

Glaude enters her first Senior World Championships following a 2018 U23 bronze. She is shorter than many of her opponents, and her powerful style could serve her well as she navigates a tough field. 

Top-seeded Zhamila Bakbergenova is formidable, winning medals at the past four World Championships, including three silver and a bronze. Japan’s Masako Furuichi is a 2021 World champion and could face Bakbergenova in the quarterfinals.

Keep your eye on Jyoti Berwal. She won a gold medal at the 2024 U20 World Championships and lost in the 2023 U23 finals to Elor. There's plenty of age-level and senior experience in this bracket.

76 kg

U.S. Representative: Kylie Welker

Seeded
1. Aiperi Medet Kyzy (KGZ)
2. Milaimy Marin (CUB)
3. Genesis Reasco (ECU)
4. Davaanasan Enkh Amar (MGL)
5. Anastasiya Alpyeyeva (UKR)
6. Elmira Syzdykova (KAZ)
7. Nodoka Yamamoto (JPN)
8. Kylie Welker (USA)

Unseeded
Vanesa Georgieva (BUL)
Brianna Frader (CAN)
Qiandegenchagan (CHN)
Priya (IND)
Enrica Rinaldi (ITA)
Seoyeon Jeong (KOR)
Kamile Gaucaite (LTU)
Damola Ojo (NGR)
Elmira Yasin (TUR)
Kristina Shumova (UWW)
Anastasiya Zimiankova (UWW)
Ozoda Zaripboeva (UZB)

Welker won a 72 kg bronze medal at the 2024 World Championships and is seeking her first Senior gold after two age-level World titles. The Pan-Am countries are the talk of this bracket, with Milaimy Marin (2024 Olympic bronze) and Genesis Reasco (5th at the 2024 Olympics) capable of winning gold. 

Top-seeded Aiperi Medet Kyzy fell to Blades and Marin at the Olympics, but won a silver medal at the 2023 Worlds, losing to Japan’s Yuka Kagami in the finals. She could face Welker in the quarterfinals. 

This is Japan’s weakest weight, with Nodoka Yamamoto “only” having two age-level World bronze medals on her resume. Pay close attention to Priya of India. She teched Blades at the 2023 U20 World Championships.