The No. 10 California women's rowing team was defeated by No. 5 Washington in the race for the Simpson Cup on Saturday at Redwood Shores. Despite a win in the third varsity eight (3V8+) race, the Golden Bears lost the trophy after Washington claimed victory in six out of seven races, securing their second consecutive title. The race conditions included a strong headwind and rain, impacting performances across the board.

By the Numbers
  • Cal's third varsity eight finished with a time of 6:57.2, defeating Washington's 3V8+ by a boat-length.
  • In the varsity eight race, Cal clocked 6:45.7, falling short to Washington's 6:43.0 by a mere 2.7 seconds.
Yes, But

While Cal's single victory was a positive highlight, the overall series of losses raises concerns about the team鈥檚 competitiveness, particularly in the context of their previous matchup in San Diego just two weeks prior.

State of Play
  • Cal secured a win in the 3V8+, breaking a losing streak against Washington.
  • Washington maintained dominance by winning key races, including the varsity four events and the first and second varsity eights.
What's Next

Cal will next compete at the Big Ten Invitational at Lake Natoma in Sacramento, facing all 11 Big Ten programs and additional teams from across the nation.

Bottom Line

Despite setbacks against Washington, Cal demonstrated improvement in certain races, signaling potential for growth as they prepare for a challenging upcoming schedule.