By Spencer Penland on SwimSwam
2026 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships
Wednesday, March 18 – Saturday, March 21, 2026 McAuley Aquatic Center, Atlanta, GA Defending Champions: Virginia (5x) Championship Central Preview Index Psych Sheet Live Stream Live Results Live Recaps Prelims: Day 1 | Day 2 Finals: Day 1 | Day 2DAY 3 PRELIMS HEAT SHEET
Day 3 of NCAAs is here. Remember, we’re working with a new schedule this year, so it’s not the usual Friday slate of events. Today, we’ll be treated to the 100 back, 200 breast, 500 free, 50 free, and the 400 medley relay. The diving event today will be 3-meter.
This session will kick off with the 100 back, where we’ll be setting the stage for a repeat showdown between Claire Curzan and Bella Sims. Last year, Curzan beat Sims by 0.01 seconds, touching in 49.11 to Sims’ 49.12. The juniors come in as the top 2 seeds this year as well, though Sims is on a new team, as she transferred to Michigan after spending her freshman and sophomore seasons at Florida. Curzan comes in as the top seed with a season best 48.38, while Sims comes in with a 49.12, which is the same time she went at NCAAs last year. While that gives Curzan a decided edge coming in, Sims has built some great momentum, having won the 400 IM last night.
The 200 breast sees defending champion Lucy Bell (Stanford) return as well. Bell has been 2:02.67 already this season, which is well under the 2:04.28 she swam to win the event last season.
In the 500 free, Texas sophomore Jillian Cox is yet another swimmer looking to defend her title. Cox won the event in 4:31.58 as a freshman last year, and has already been 4:30.53 this season. Cox already won the mile on Wednesday night, and she didn’t race on Thursday, so she should be fresh. Georgia freshman Kennedi Dobson has been 4:30.70 this season, so this could turn into a really great race today.
The 50 free is the only event guaranteed to have a new champion this year, as Gretchen Walsh won it last year. Tennessee’s Camille Spink enters as the top seed, holding a season best of 20.87.
WOMEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS
NCAA Record: 48.10 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024) American Record: 48.10 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024) U.S. Open Record: 48.10 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024) Championship Record: 48.26 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024) 2025 NCAA Champion: Claire Curzan, Virginia – 49.11 2025 8th/16th Prelims Times: 50.29/51.20TOP 8:
WOMEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS
NCAA Record: 2:01.29 – Kate Douglass, Virginia (2023) American Record: 2:01.29 – Kate Douglass, Virginia (2023) U.S. Open Record: 2:01.29 – Kate Douglass, Virginia (2023) Championship Record: 2:01.29 – Kate Douglass, Virginia (2023) 2025 NCAA Champion: Lucy Bell, Stanford – 2:04.28 2025 8th/16th Prelims Times: 2:07.60/2:08.56TOP 8:
WOMEN’S 500 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS
NCAA Record: 4:24.06 – Katie Ledecky, Stanford (2017) American Record: 4:24.06 – Katie Ledecky, Stanford (2017) U.S. Open Record: 4:24.06 – Katie Ledecky, Stanford (2017) Championship Record: 4:24.06 – Katie Ledecky, Stanford (2017) 2025 NCAA Champion: Jillian Cox, Texas – 4:31.58 2025 8th/16th Prelims Times: 4:37.01/4:38.76TOP 8:
WOMEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS
NCAA Record: 20.37 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024) American Record: 20.37 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024) U.S. Open Record: 20.37 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024) Championship Record: 20.37 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024) 2025 NCAA Champion: Gretchen Walsh, Virginia – 20.49 2025 8th/16th Prelims Times: 21.63/21.89TOP 8:
WOMEN’S 400 MEDLEY RELAY – TIMED FINALS (EARLY HEATS)
NCAA Record: 3:19.58 – Virginia (Curzan, A. Walsh, G Walsh, A Moesch) (2025) American Record: 3:19.58 – Virginia (Curzan, A. Walsh, G Walsh, A Moesch) (2025) U.S. Open Record: 3:19.58 – Virginia (Curzan, A. Walsh, G Walsh, A Moesch) (2025) Championship Record: 3:20.20 – Virginia (Curzan, A. Walsh, G Walsh, A Moesch) (2025) 2025 NCAA Champion: Virginia (Curzan, A. Walsh, G Walsh, A Moesch) – 3:20.20 2025 8th/16th Times: 3:27.76/3:30.93TOP 8:
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