The No. 8 California women's rowing team heads to Gainesville, Georgia, for the 2026 NCAA Rowing Championship, aiming for their fifth national title and first since 2018. Competing from May 29 to 31, the Bears will race against 21 other elite collegiate programs. Cal has a strong history in the championship, having won four national titles and secured 14 top-3 finishes. The team enters as the No. 7 seed in the varsity eight category, with additional entries in the second varsity eight and varsity four events. After a third-place finish at the ACC Championship, expectations are high for a strong performance this weekend.

By the Numbers
  • Cal has won four national titles, with the latest in 2018.
  • The Bears achieved a third-place finish at the ACC Championship two weeks ago.
State of Play
  • Cal is one of 12 programs to receive an at-large selection to the NCAA Championship.
  • The team will compete with two varsity eights and one varsity four crew.
What's Next

The schedule includes heats on Friday leading to semifinals and finals over the weekend. The performance in the heats will determine progression to the semifinal rounds, with a national champion to be revealed based on points earned across all boat categories.

Bottom Line

Cal women's rowing is poised to leverage its historic legacy and recent momentum, as they seek to reclaim national glory at the NCAA Championships, making this an essential opportunity for the program.