With December finally here, Illinois women’s gymnastics will start its 2025 season in just over a month. After preparing all off-season, the team is ready to kick its season off with a bang on Jan. 12 against Ball State. Before that, the Illini have an intrasquad Orange and Blue meet at Huff Hall on Saturday, Dec. 14. With high expectations from the media, multiple talented returners and a mix of promising gymnasts, the 2025 season should be one to remember for the Illini.
2024 recap
The Illini had a fairly successful 2024 campaign and are coming off a 16-12 record. While that’s not bad by any means, it does leave a little more to be desired. One thing the team needs to improve on for 2025 is their conference record. With a 4-5 conference record in 2024, the Illini must improve among Big Ten competition in 2025 to keep their name strong for the championships.
Last season, the team fell to Minnesota in an extremely close match. Now, they’ll need to be at their best against the Golden Gophers since they were ranked No. 18 in the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association. Since small details mean everything in gymnastics, they must be precise in their movements to secure victories over tough competitors.
Home gym advantage was real for the Illini last year, going 7-2 when they competed at Huff Hall. On the road, however, the team had a meager 3-6 record. If the Illini want to break through in 2025, they must turn this trend around and have success in any venue.
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2025 preseason coaches poll
Heading into the 2025 season, the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association ranked the Illini No. 22. While this isn’t a surprise for the program as they’ve made the top 25 in 15 of the last 16 years, it’s a nice vote of confidence nonetheless. Unlike other sports, this poll holds much weight because it’s voted on by the coaches who are the most in touch with the sport.
Returning letterwinners
One of the biggest boosts for this Illinois team is the return of fifth-year all-around Amelia Knight. As the returning captain, Knight provides a veteran presence to the team. That’s not even mentioning she’s been incredible during her athletic career. Knight has dominated the bars, posting a 9.950 score along with a 9.925 score on both beam and floor.
Knight also won the bars title at Nebraska last year with a score of 9.925. The bottom line is that Knight will likely be the anchor for the Illini and one of their main reasons for success.
Outside of Knight, the program has brought back eight other members. This includes junior all-around Arielle Ward and senior all-around Ruthuja Nataraj. The surplus of veteran talent will make the Illini a difficult team to bring down in 2025.
Incoming talent
With the graduating 2024 class out the door, there’s always a need for fresh new talent. Heading into the year, the Illini have brought on nine new additions. The class is highlighted by Mya Gordon, who was an all-around state champion in 2023 after earning a perfect score on vault.
Gordon is joined by Chloe Cho, who competed at the USA Gymnastics’ Core Hydration Classic in 2023, and seven other freshmen who will bring excitement and youth to Illinois.
Additionally, the team added former Kentucky Wildcat Megan Sapp, a redshirt sophomore who didn’t compete in 2024. Head coach Nadalie Walsh also added senior Emmalise Nock from Northern Illinois. This Illinois squad is young, but with existing leadership and incoming opportunities, the future looks bright for the program.
