A journey that began more than three decades ago took another huge step forward this week, as Division III women’s wrestling was one of four sports to earn NCAA Championship status during the 2026 NCAA Convention in the Washington, D.C., area.

Not only was result momentous because it was the first time in history four sports were upgraded during the same NCAA Convention, it also was a testament to the continued popularity and growth of women’s sports.

Division III wrestling joins STUNT, acrobatics and tumbling, and Division II bowling as the newest additions to the championship landscape.

The first standalone NCAA Division III Women’s Wrestling Championship is expected to happen in the spring of 2028.

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The path to this week’s voting included all four sports spending time in the Emerging Sports for Women program, which was established in 1994 and now has resulted in the elevation of eight sports to the Championship level.

This time last year, at the 2025 NCAA Convention, the NCAA added women’s wrestling as the 91st championship sport. That included the creation of the sport’s first national championship, which will happen this season and feature all three levels – Division I, Division II and Division III – competing against each other in one event. 

Voting on this year's submitted recommendations took place Jan. 14-16, and the data for Division III women’s wrestling to have its own championship was overwhelming.

Division III accounts for more than half of the NCAA schools that sponsor women’s wrestling – 55 – and holding a separate championship event guarantees the Division III student-athletes are competing against schools of similar size and resources. 

How Has The Timeline For Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Unfolded?

According to NCAA.com, women’s wrestling appeared on the collegiate scene in 1993.

Here are some key moments in the evolution of NCAA women’s wrestling:

• 1993: The University of Minnesota-Morris becomes the first school to sponsor a women’s wrestling program, though its existence was short-lived due to budgetary restrictions.
• 2017: Presbyterian College adds men’s and women’s wrestling, making the women’s team the first in the country at the Division I level.
• 2019: Women’s wrestling and acrobatics and tumbling receive support needed to potentially be added to the Emerging Sports for Women program, which was established in 1994.
• 2020: The above proposals were approved, and the two sports were added to the program, marking another huge milestone in their progress toward championship status. The sports that paved the way were beach volleyball, rowing, ice hockey, water polo and bowling. 
• 2021: Almost 30 years after the first women suited up to compete collegiately, a big player in the world of college wrestling steps up and changes the landscape. Already a powerhouse and multi-time national champion in men’s wrestling, the University of Iowa makes a huge statement by giving its fan base and student body a women’s team to support, too. 
• 2023: The growth of women’s wrestling was unprecedented, and the sport quickly surpasses the 40 schools needed to be considered for championship status. 
• 2024: Just a few months later, in early 2024, the meteoric rise of women’s wrestling results in an officially recommendation from the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics for the sport to earn elevated status for all three divisions of competition. 
• 2024: In late 2024, Delaware State becomes the first HBCU to establish a varsity women’s wrestling program.
• 2025: As mentioned above, it was at the 2025 NCAA Convention that women’s wrestling became a championship sport and plans began for the inaugural three-division national championship to conclude the 2025-2026 season. 

What Are The Weight Classes For Women’s Collegiate Wrestling?

There are 10 weight classes for women’s collegiate wrestling: 103, 110, 117, 124, 131, 138, 145, 160, 180, 207.

When Is The 2026 NCAA Women’s Wrestling Championships?

The inaugural NCAA Women’s Wrestling Championships will take place March 6-7 at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa. 

Athletes will qualify for the season-ending event through six regional tournaments around the country Feb. 20-22. 

The 2026 NCAA Women’s Wrestling Championships will feature 180 competitors – 30 from each regional event. 

2025-2026 National Wrestling Coaches Association Coaches Poll

Here’s a look at the latest NCAA Women’s Tournament Top 25 Coaches Poll

Top 25 as of Dec. 4, 2025

• 1. Iowa – 105 points (Previous: 1)
• 2. McKendree – 99 points (Previous: 2)
• 3. Grand Valley State – 90 points (Previous: 3)
• 4. North Central – 80 points (Previous: 4)
• 5. Colorado Mesa – 38 points (Previous: 5)
• 6. King – 32 points (Previous: 7)
• 7. Presbyterian – 30 points (Previous: 6)
• 8. Simon Fraser – 23 points (Previous: NR)
• 9. Emmanuel (Ga.) – 22 points (Previous: 15)
• 10. Fort Hays State – 20 points (Previous: 13)
• 11. East Stroudsburg – 19 points (Previous: 9)
• 12. Northern Michigan – 17 points (Previous: 11)
• 13. Eastern – 14 points (Previous: 16)
• 14. Simpson (Iowa) – 13 points (Previous: 11)
• 15. Elmira – 12 points (Previous: 16)
• T16. Tiffin – 9 points (Previous: 13)
• T16. Wartburg – 9 points (Previous: 25)
• 18. Lehigh – 8 points (Previous: NR)
• T19. William Jewell – 7 points (Previous: 19)
• T19. Adrian – 7 points (Previous: 21)
• T21. New England – 6 points (Previous: 21)
• T21. Lindenwood – 6 points (Previous: 24)
• 23. Aurora – 5 points (Previous: 8)
• T24. Frostburg State – 4 points (Previous: NR)
• T24. UW–Stevens Point – 4 points (Previous: NR)

FloWrestling's 2025-2026 NCAA Women's College Wrestling Rankings

Curious about the individual stars of women's collegiate wrestling? 

Check out FloWrestling's latest collegiate rankings by weight class, as of Jan. 15:

• 103
• 110
• 117
• 124 
• 131
• 138
• 145
• 160
• 180
• 207

HAWKEYES Series Is Streaming For FREE

HAWKEYES: The First Season with Iowa Women’s Wrestling is wrestling like you’ve never seen it before. 

FloSports followed the University of Iowa women’s wrestling team through its groundbreaking inaugural season, the first Power Five women’s program in the country, and captured the drama, the struggles and the triumphs along the way.

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