The 2026 Women’s US Open on April 23-24 features most of wrestling’s biggest stars. Helen Maroulis (57), Kennedy Blades (68), and Kylie Welker (76) are returning World medalists with an automatic bye to Final X; therefore, they don’t have to compete in Las Vegas.
Sarah Hildebrandt is returning to active competition after taking a year off from the sport. She won the 2024 Olympics at 50 kg, but is entered at 53 kg. Hildebrandt is a six-time World/Olympic medalist, winning a silver medal at 53 during the 2018 World Championships before dropping down for the 2020 Olympics and moving back up for the US Open.
Kayla Miracle is a two-time World silver medalist (2021-22) at 62 kg, who is moving up to 65 after falling to Adaugo Nwachukwu at Final X. Macey Kilty is a two-time World medalist at 65 kg (2023-24) and is dropping down to 62, where she is expected to collide with Nwachukwu. Jennifer Page won a bronze medal at 59 kg during the 2023 World Championships, but has competed at 65 kg for the past three years.
Jacarra Winchester is registered at 57 kg, but has competed at 53, 55, 57, 59, and 62 during her senior career. She won the US Open last season but forfeited in the finals before ultimately moving up to 59 kg to make the World team.
Audrey Jimenez made the 2025 World Team at 50 kg but is out with an injury, opening up the possibility of a first-time representative at this weight. U20 World champion Cristelle Rodriguez made the 2025 Senior World Team at 55 kg, but is dropping to 53 for the US Open.
Below is a weight-by-weight US Open preview. Champions receive an automatic bid to Final X on June 19 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
50 Kilograms
Bookmark this weight and do whatever it takes to watch every match. It won’t disappoint. Several top-shelf wrestlers won’t reach the podium (top eight).
Hildebrandt moved up to 53, and Jimenez is injured, leaving the door open for someone new to represent the United States at the lightest international weight.
The frontrunner is Erin Golston, who is seeking her first senior-level World team. The 32-year-old has been a consistent force for Team USA, making multiple National Teams and reaching 2025 Final X. The three-time age-level World medalist has looked sharp this season and is seeking her second US Open title.
Emily Shilson looked in top form at the 2025 Bill Farrell Memorial International after battling injuries the past several seasons. Shilson has won U17, U20, and U23 gold — and, like Golston, is seeking to make her first Senior World team.
Speaking of gold, Sage Mortimer and Morgan Turner are age-level World champions, fresh off their epic three-match series at the U23 National Championships. Mortimer won the first match 14-5 before Turner stormed back for 9-9 and 12-9 victories.
Turner has been successful at college opens, but this is her first crack at senior-level competition. She proved she belongs with wins over Mortimer, a 2024 U23 World champion.
Do you want more World gold? How about Katie Gomez, a 2021 Cadet World champion and 2023 US Open champion, who is dropping down to 50 kg.
How about college gold? Val Solorio is fresh off an NCAA title at 103 for the Hawkeyes, while her teammate, Emilie Gonzalez, won a 2024 national title. Mia Palumbo is a two-time NAIA champion for William Penn, Jaslyn Gallegos is a two-time national champion, and Heather Crull is a U23 National champion. Sterling Dias, Samara Chavez, Rayana Sahagun, Kaelani Shufeldt, Charlotte Fowler, and Zoey Haney have reached the college national finals at least once, and Kendra Ryan is a four-time All-American who made the US National Team last year.
How about Felicity Taylor, a two-time college national champion and five-time finalist who made the 2025 Senior World Team at 53 kg and is dropping down to 50? Or Jaclyn Bouzakis, a two-time U17 World bronze medalist. Or Rianne Murphy, a U17 World Teamer who finished third at the 2025 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships.
So, yeah, 50 kg is loaded.
53 Kilograms
Sarah Hildebrandt is the favorite until proven otherwise. Her short offense and stellar top game will be difficult for anyone in the field to stop. The 32-year-old has a track record that speaks for itself, and her 2024 Olympic gold medal shines bright.
Cristelle Rodriguez could be a formidable opponent after winning the U23 Nationals in Spokane. She is a complete wrestler with quick, precise shots from every angle. Her drop from 55 likely means she’s positioning herself to stay at 53 since it is an Olympic weight.
Brianna Gonzalez defeated Taylor in the US Open finals last year, but Gonzalez isn’t entered, and Taylor is dropping to 50. A healthy Tiare Ikei is dangerous and could be a factor. Sydney Petzinger won the 2025 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships finals over Clare Booe, and both are expected to compete in Las Vegas.
Fresh faces like Taylor Whiting, Abbi Cooper, and Isabella Marie Gonzalez are good bets to reach the podium.
55 Kilograms
Everest Leydecker put the wrestling world on notice when she reached the 2025 US Open finals and Final X as a high school junior. The 2025 U20 World champion is fresh off two titles at Women’s Nationals, making her second U20 World team at 55 kg and winning U23 Nationals at 57.
The Phoenix, Arizona, native has looked better than ever after dropping straight matches to Rodriguez at Final X. She dropped a match to Olympic silver medalist Lucia Yepez and was headlocked and pinned by Sara Sterner in her second match at U23 Nationals. Still, she had several statement wins at the 2025 Bill Farrell Memorial International and won the 2026 Zagreb Open.
Areana Villaescusa is a gritty, tough, and well-conditioned wrestler who made the 2024 World Team and was in a bronze medal match. Leydecker defeated Villaescusa, 2-1, in the 2025 US Open semis, so this should be a competitive match if they meet.
Amani Jones is a two-time age-level World medalist and two-time NCWWC (NCAA) champion for North Central, who accepted a role with the Cowboy Regional Training Center. Her low-level attacks make her a dangerous match-up for anyone in the bracket.
Marissa Gallegos is a college national champion, and Karissa Turnwall is a three-time college All-American who won the 2026 U23 National Championships.
57 Kilograms
World champion Jaccara Winchester is the favorite if she competes. Amanda Martinez won the 2025 US Open when Winchester forfeited to her in the finals. Martinez fell to Maroulis at Final X, and the winner of this weight will face her again for the World Team spot.
Alex Hedrick has also faced Maroulis at Final X, and is back from her Mormon mission. She is difficult to score on and will be a factor, depending on how she snaps back from a lengthy competitive layoff.
Xochitl Mota-Pettis is one of the most exciting and unpredictable wrestlers in the field, making her a dangerous match-up. She’s fresh off a 2026 NCAA title for Quincy after winning the 2023 US Open.
Sterner has a nasty lefty headlock and arm throw, and will be one to watch after pinning Leydecker at the U23 National Championships. Carolina Moreno is a three-time NAIA champion, Karlee Brooks just made the U20 World Team, and Virginia Foard is a college national finalist.
59 Kilograms
Abby Nette won the 2025 US Open with a fall over Michaela Beck in the finals. That earned her a spot in Final X, where she took the first match against Winchester before dropping the next two. Nette made the 2022 World Team and is the favorite to make her second, depending on whether Winchester moves up to 59 kg again.
Beck won the 2023 US Open, knocking off two Senior World Teamers in the process (Nette and Maya Nelson). She is 1-1 against Lexi Janiak, a three-time age-level World medalist and four-time college All-American (2nd, 3rd, 1st, 2nd).
Janiak lost straight matches to Alex Szkotnicki in the 2023 U23 National finals, after Szkotnicki competed at 131, 138, and 145 for McKendree. Cam Guerin made history by winning five college national titles for the Bearcats and will be an immediate factor at this weight. Her funky and open style makes her a fan favorite and a difficult one to game-plan against.
Sarah Savidge is a two-time NAIA finalist and four-time All-American. Bella Williams made the U20 World Team at 62 kg. Lauren Stoker and Brenda Reyna are consistent forces at this weight. Emma Bacon is a high school star who recently competed in two tournaments at Women’s Nationals.
62 Kilograms
Are Adaugo Nwachukwu and Macey Kilty on a collision course? It seems that way, given their track records.
Nwachuckwu made her first Senior World Team last year, attempting to go back-to-back with Kilty dropping from 65. Nwachukwu has had close matches with Alara Boyd and SaVannah Cosme, but has also dominated them at times.
Kilty is positionally sound with a big gas tank. She will need to stop Nwachukwu’s explosive moves if they meet in the finals. Kilty defeated Nwachukwu, 6-2, at the 2024 Olympic Trials.
Aine Drury is a selective but explosive wrestler who won the 2025 US Open but fell to Kilty in straight matches at 2025 Final X and the 2024 World Team Trials finals.
Katie Lange defeated Claire DiCugno in the 2026 138-pound NCAA finals, and both are entered at 62. DiCugno fell to Nwachukwu in straight matches at the U23 National Championships, but defense is a challenge if you aren’t prepared. The more you’re in on DiCugno’s legs, the better it is for her. Lange moves straight forward with a punishing style.
Zoe Nowicki is a college national champion with MMA aspirations who pops into tournaments. Watch out for Skye Realin’s arm throw. It’s deadly.
65 Kilograms
Miracle is moving up from 62 kg and will test herself against the 65 kg field for the first time. Emma Bruntil is an elite-level competitor who missed last season with injuries, but finished fifth at the 2023 World Championships at 68 kg.
Bella Mir and Reese Larramendy are friends and rivals who faced each other twice during the college season, with Larramendy winning at the National Duals and Mir winning in the NCAA finals.
Jennifer Page fell to Drury in the 65 kg semis at the 2025 US Open, but she’s a returning World medalist who took one of three matches against Miracle in the 2022 Final X special wrestle-off. Nina Makem might be the most dangerous wrestler in the field after an impressive run at the recent U23 National Championships.
Cadence Diduch, Riley Hanrahan, London Houston, Marisol Nugent, Paige Wehrmeister, Violette Lasure, Haylie Jaffe, and Maddie Kubicki round out a quality 65 kg field.
68 Kilograms
The US Open champion is fighting for a Final X spot against Kennedy Blades.
Jasmine Robinson is a 2024 U20 World champion and 2025 U23 World silver medalist who is dropping down to 68 kg after not placing at 72 kg at the U23 National Championships, but making the U20 World Team.
Kaylynn Albrecht made the 2025 National Team with a last-second thriller against Skylar Grote at 72 kg, but Albrecht will attempt to make the team at a lighter weight. Latifah McBryde completed her college career at Life University as a four-time All-American (2nd, 2nd, 1st, 3rd) and 2025 NAIA champion.
Albrecht and McBryde had an 11-8 shootout in the 2023 NAIA finals, so maybe they will run it back at the US Open.
Solin Piearcy is a consistent force at this weight, and it should surprise no one if she reaches the finals.
72 Kilograms
Alex Glaude made the 2025 World Team after winning the US Open with a late win in the finals against Skylar Grote. Olympic champion Amit Elor elected not to compete in Final X, giving Glaude the spot.
Glaude is the current favorite to make the team again and will face stiff competition against Grote (another Final Xer), who took Elor to the brink in a 2-1 match at the World Team Trials finals. Alexandria Alli won the 76 kg division at the U23 National Championships, and Joye Levendusky is another Final Xer in the field.
Precious Wieser is a threat to win the US Open. She’s also reached Final X and is dropping from 76 kg. She has good leg attacks, and the possibility of a Wieser-Glaude is intriguing given their contrast in styles.
76 Kilograms
This is Dymond Guilford’s weight to win with Kylie Welker sitting out until Final X. She made the 2022 Senior World Team and was competitive with Welker in the best-of-three series for the 76 kg spot.
Tristan Kelly is a two-time national college champion at 207 pounds, but her preferred weight is 76 kg.
Shenita Lawson defeated Kelly at the 2026 National Duals to give North Central the team title over McKendree, so this could be an intriguing rematch if it happens. NCAA finalist Tiffani Baublitz and U20 World bronze medalist Naomi Simon round out the field.