A near-perfect floor routine wasn't enough as Oklahoma battled fiercely, falling by a razor-thin margin in a dramatic SEC Championship showdown
TULSA, Okla. - The No. 1 Oklahoma women's gymnastics team delivered a thrilling, come-from-behind performance at the 2026 SEC Championships on Saturday night at the BOK Center, ultimately securing a hard-fought runner-up finish in one of the closest team battles in recent conference history.
The Sooners, fresh off claiming the SEC regular-season title outright for the second consecutive year, entered the meet as heavy favorites but faced stiff competition from a stacked field featuring Florida, LSU, and Alabama.
The championship came down to the wire, with the final rotation deciding the outcome in dramatic fashion. Despite a powerhouse 49.600 on floor exercise to close out the meet, Oklahoma fell just short, finishing with a team score of 198.150—a mere 0.025 points behind Florida's winning total of 198.175. LSU took third with 197.950, while Alabama rounded out the top four at 197.475.
This marked back-to-back runner-up finishes for the Sooners at the SEC Championships. Head coach KJ Kindler’s squad rallied from fourth place after the opening rotation to seize the lead heading into the final event.
The meet began with a challenging start on vault, where OU posted a 49.325. Elizabeth Blessey led off strongly with a 9.90, followed by Keira Wells at 9.850. Hannah Scheible contributed a 9.800, Mackenzie Estep added a 9.850, Elle Mueller scored 9.825, and Addison Fatta anchored with a solid 9.90. Florida surged ahead early with a 49.525 on beam, while LSU and Alabama also posted competitive opening scores.
Oklahoma responded emphatically on uneven bars with a season-tying high of 49.600, boosting their two-event total to 98.925 and closing the gap to just 0.050 behind the leaders.
Lily Pederson, returning to the lineup for the first time since late February, opened with a stuck double layout dismount for a 9.90. Faith Torrez and Ella Murphy both delivered matching 9.95s, Murphy's career high on the event, while Fatta, Estep, and Scheible strung together three consecutive 9.90s in a dominant showing.
The beam rotation proved pivotal, as the Sooners climbed into first with a 49.625, their third-highest score of the season on the apparatus. Torrez anchored with a flawless routine, earning her first perfect 10.0 of the year and second of her career on beam.
This performance not only clinched her back-to-back SEC beam titles but also highlighted her dominance, as she has now captured at least one conference championship every year of her collegiate career, totaling five overall.
Fatta opened with a 9.875 (her 13th score above 9.85 this season), Wells showcased consistency with a 9.925 (her eighth 9.90+ on beam), Murphy delivered a poised 9.925, Pederson added 9.850, and Mueller contributed a 9.90. OU counted four scores of 9.90 or better in the rotation.
Entering the final rotation on floor with a slim lead, the Sooners posted another strong 49.600. Elle Mueller and Kamila Pawlak provided steady contributions at 9.850 and 9.875, respectively, while Addison Fatta scored 9.925.
Keira Wells achieved a career-high 9.950 in the third spot, now boasting career bests of 9.95 across all three events she competes. Mackenzie Estep matched her career high with a 9.95 as the anchor, and Ella Murphy opened with a 9.90. Despite the excellence, Florida's 49.800 on bars—highlighted by standout performances including a perfect 10 from Selena Harris-Miranda proved decisive in clinching the Gators' title.Individual highlights shone brightly for Oklahoma.
Faith Torrez claimed the SEC beam crown outright with her perfect routine. On floor, Mackenzie Estep and Keira Wells shared the event title with LSU's Kaliya Lincoln and Alabama's Gabby Gladieux, marking the first career individual conference championships for both Estep and Wells.
Estep became the first freshman to win an individual SEC title since Torrez in 2023.With the SEC Championships now in the books, the Sooners turn their focus to the NCAA postseason.
UP NEXT: Regional competition is scheduled for April 1-5, with the full 36-team field and site assignments set to be announced on Monday, March 23, at 11 a.m. CT. The four regional host sites for 2026 are Arizona State, Kentucky, LSU, and Oregon State.
This near-miss in Tulsa only fuels the fire for a program built a strong dynasty. The Sooners' ability to battle back from an early deficit and post multiple high-9.9 routines across events demonstrates why they remain a top contender for a national title.