Welcome to Week 4, y’all.
A new test awaits in Week 4, with the Tigers heading out for their second road matchup…. weather permitting of course, as Winter Storm Fern appears to be headed right for the southeast and could really muck up the travel.
A lot of what Alabama head coach Ashley Johnston said in her weekly video leading up to this meet also works for the Missouri Tigers as well as they prepare for a top-10 matchup:
- Have freedom in the way you perform. Be free to be the best version of yourself.
- Start strong.
- Don’t play it safe.
- Don’t be cautious in your approach. Come out swinging right away.
- Rely on each other.
I love it.
Let’s get started.
Meet Info
When: Friday, January 23, 2026
Where: Coleman Coliseum
| Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Home opener)
Time: 6:30 p.m. CST
TV: SEC+ (link)
Scoring Updates: Virtius— https://virti.us/session?s=hWlTqsQWPZ
History: In the all-time series against Alabama, the Tigers are 4-25 with the black & gold on a hot streak, taking the last three contests (though one wasn’t truly head-to-head). The Tigers and Tide met during the regular season in the Zou to The Lou meet in February where they won 197.150 to 196.675. They also technically faced off for SEC supremacy in the conference meet, though they were in different sessions. The Tigers were again victorious. And finally, they’d meet again in the National Semifinals where they finished fourth (Mizzou was second, advancing to the National Championships).
The last time the Tigers were in Tuscaloosa, in 2024, they had their lowest score of the season, so yeah…. wipe that from your memory right now.
Leo Prediction: The Tigers have now worn 3/4 of their 2025 leos, and I think Velvet Noir is going to be saved for a home meet, so I’m thinking Spotlight, Columns, or Gameday Glitter. FWIW, they wore Columns when they beat Bama last year.
UPDATE: I’m wrong again and good thing I don’t have money riding on this, friends. I’m told they’re wearing Velvet Noir (aka the Prom Dress leo)
About the Venue: Coleman Coliseum is a 15,383-seat arena that serves as the home of Alabama men’s & women’s basketball and women’s gymnastics. It previously was also the home of the women’s volleyball program but they moved to a different facility. With its theatre-style seating, state-of-the-art video boards and massive four-sided jumbotron thingy, it is a great spot to check out a gymnastics meet, and has been used for various NCAA gymnastics championships, SEC championships, and most recently, NCAA Regionals in 2025. (courtesy of RollTide.com)
This dual meet will serve as the Tide’s home opener, and their 2025 home attendance averaged 9,757 with a max crowd of 11,166. In fact, they regularly average close to 10k a season, so we should expect a loud and raucous environment. (data via RoadtoNationals.com)
Fun-ish Facts: Alabama has finished a season ranked no worse than 12th since 1998. A team that, in the last 10 years, has finished 3rd, 6th, 8th, 12th, 8th, 5th, 7th, 10th, 8th and 8th (2025). Their coach, Ashley Johnston, is in her fourth year at the helm.
Shannon Welker took over for Mizzou in 2014, and has turned the Tigers into a top-15-20 team annually. His first year they were ranked 41st, but after that: 21st, 19th, 17th, 20th, 17th, 14th, 14th, 14th, 5th, 11th, 3rd (2o25).
On the matchup, per Ashley Johnston: “I think it’s overall going to be a really exciting night with a great team, the Missouri Tigers, who finished third in the country last year. So they are a top tier team. This is going to be an awesome matchup, and we want our whole Tuscaloosa community, Birmingham and everybody, to come out and support it.”
You heard her, Alabama/southeastern Tiger fans, get out to Tuscaloosa and support your Tigers, winter storm be damned!
Last Time On the Mats: Week 3 Rewind
You can check out my in-depth recap here, but if you’re wanting a quick hitter, here’s some highlights!
- VAULT: 49.300— KG 9.85 (SB) | Kaia 9.80 (SB-tie) | RJ 9.80 | Ki 9.85 (SB-tie) | ET 9.85 | H2 9.90; 49.300 ties Mizzou’s best score of the season. OU “struggles” on bars, scoring just a 49.100 and no 9.90 scores, and giving Mizzou an early lead.
- BARS: 48.825— YIKES, lol. Addi 9.50 | LMac 9.725 | Liv 9.75 | H2 9.80 | Ki 9.825 | Mak 9.725; scoring was a bit tighter than expected, and the Tigers didn’t do themselves a lot of favors with routines that lacked their usual sharpness. OU saved all their 9.90s for vault, and retook the lead, 98.675 t0 98.125.
- BEAM: 49.375— Amy 9.825 | LMac 9.90 (SB- tie) | Kaia 9.875 (CH) | Liv 9.90 (CH-tie) | RJ 9.80 | Addi 9.875; a really good rotation for the Tigers and second highest of season. OU earns a 49.275, and again no 9.90s. OU still leads, 147.950 to 147.500.
- FLOOR: 49.425— ET 9.85 | RJ 9.825 (SB-tie) | Ayla 9.90 (CH-tie) | Kaia 9.825 | H2 9.925 (SB-tie) | KG 9.925 (SB); second highest score of season, and beats OU’s FX score. OU earns 49.475 to win the meet, 197.425 to 196.925.
- ALL AROUND/OVERALL: Overall, 9/24 routines had at least one judge awarding a 9.90 and 10 scores either tied or a beat a 2026 season best. 4 either tied or beat a career-high.
- MVGs (as voted on by me): Kaia Tanskanen, Olivia Kelly, Ayla Acevedo
From Shannon: “We always want to beat any team we go up against. I think there have been years in the past that we felt like, hey, if we can even keep it close here, that would be successful. Even last year, to some degree, quite honestly, but not this year. So you know that a little bit of disappointment is not a bad thing that can drive you to get better.”
Quick Comparisons
[Charts in team colors created by Karen, with stats from RoadtoNationals.com, a great website]
Opponent Outlook: Alabama
KEY ADDITIONS:
Azaraya Ra-Akbar (2023 Elite Canada FX champion; 2022 Winter Cup FX bronze medalist | Jasmine Cawley (3rd— AA; 2nd— FX; 5th— BB at DP Nationals; 2nd— AA at Nastia Liukin Cup | McKenzie Matters (4th— AA, BB; 6th— VLT at DP Nationals; 2nd— AA at Region 7 Championships) | Derin Tanriyasükür (2020 European bronze medalist; top 3 finishes at 2023 & 2024 National Championships with club team IBB Sports Club) | Noella Marshall (3rd— VLT at DP Nationals)
KEY LOSSES:
Shania Adams (AA) | Lilly Hudson (AA) | Karis German (V,FX)— torn achilles | Corinne Bunagan (VLT, BB)— ACL tear
RETURNING/KNOWN SCORERS:
NOTES:
- Alabama ended its 2025 season ranked 8th, ending at the National Semifinals in fourth place with a 196.825 team score behind OU (197.55), Mizzou (197.300), and Florida (197.200). They finished the regular season ranked 10th nationally, including 7th on vault, 8th on floor, 12th on bars and 17th on beam.
- Going into Week 4, Johnston said (and I wholeheartedly think the same of Missouri), “You know, I think every event right now is capable of being 49.5+.”
- More from Johnston: “I think on any given night, you never quite know what the judges’ scores are going to look like. Of course, we have objective criteria, but it’s scored from a subjective lens. And so you know, we really try not to focus on what the end score is, because we truly have no control over that. But one thing that we have focused on is starting strong.” The last two weeks they were on the road, and she urged the team not to play it safe. “Don’t be cautious in your approach.”
- Five Bama gymnasts earned 2025 WCGA Postseason All-American recognition, including returners Gabby Gladieux (1st Team AA, 2nd Team VLT/BB/FX), Chloe LaCoursiere (2nd Team UB), Ryan Fuller (2nd Team, UB) and Corinne Bunagan (2nd Team, VLT). Gladieux also earned All-SEC honors on floor, while Fuller made the All-Freshman team. Gladieux also was awarded WCGA Regular Season All-American status on floor (1st Team) and all-around (2nd Team).
- In the classroom, Rachel Rybicki was a recipient of the NCAA Elite 90 award, which honors the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA for each of the NCAA’s 90 championships. Rybicki holds a 4.00 GPA and is double majoring in economics and finance with a Spanish minor.
- The Tide is high currently after a really well-executed meet at Florida last week where they led after two rotations (98.75 to 98.725). Ultimately, the Gators overtook the lead, winning 197.425 to 197.275. LaCoursiere won the uneven bars title with a 9.975 (career high), while Ra-Akbar took the all-around and vault titles. Kvamme’s 9.925 on beam was a career high, and Sears’ 9.90 on floor was her second in a row.
- After the narrow loss to Florida, head coach Ashley Johnston said, “[To begin this year,] we’ve been approaching each meet like it’s our sixth meet – halfway through the season, knowing we can handle anything. We’ve gone in with the mentality that no matter what the chaos a rotation brings, we know we can handle it – to be present, to be where our feet are, and I think the team did a really great job of stepping up tonight. I feel like championship teams are those that can go five up-five count when it matters. I think that moment [on beam after Cawley’s fall as leadoff], while it stung a lot as the win was in our grasp, I do think that moment is going to be the push and the drive that carries this team even further. We have to be thankful for moments like that because they prepare us for cutthroat environments. This was an amazing environment, but the team was certainly nervous. They train for that but there’s nothing quite like having to go five up-five count in that situation. I think it made us better. We’re going to learn from it, figure out what we need to tweak and put it into our practice next week.”
- Bama freshman Azaraya Ra-Akbar is off to one helluva start to her collegiate career, winning SEC Freshman of the Week honors in Week 3 after an astounding 39.600 all-around score in her AA debut at Florida. She won three events in The Swamp— vault (9.925), floor (9.90) and all-around, and also totaled a 9.95 on bars.
- She was given the CGN Performance of the Week honors: Performance of the Week
With eye-catching performances to begin her collegiate career, Crimson Tide newbie Azaraya Ra-Akbar has put herself firmly amongst the Freshman of the Year frontrunners with a huge 39.600 in her all-around debut to follow up her 9.975 on bars in her NCAA debut. Only Chiles has bested that four-event total this season, as Ra-Akbar’s early prowess has played a significant factor in Alabama’s top-four ranking in the early season.
- In Week 1, the Tide earned their highest season-opening score in program history, beating Clemson 197.475 to 196.550. They took four event titles in that meet— Ra-Akbar (UB, 9.975), Cawley (VLT, 9.90 & AA, 39.475), LaCoursiere & Ladanyi (BB, 9.925).
- Staff Changes: Former All-American and Illini alum Evan Manivong joins Alabama after working for USA Gymnastics as a content creator. He will be the Tide’s new program coordinator, assisting with creative projects, fan engagement and NIL.
Missouri Lineup Preview
Disclaimer: Just like Jon Snow, I know nothing, really. I have included my spreadsheet this week, which includes high scores, scores from the B&G meet (if that is higher than the current score only), and the 2025 top score (if applicable.)
Since the meet is going to be on streaming services (SEC+), we are likely to get an exhibition or two! YAY! And because the Tigers will just linear tv broadcasts moving forward until the Feb. 20 Mizzou Quad, maybe we see some different athletes exhibition?
LINEUP PREDICTIONS:
- Vault Analysis: If we’re going same lineup as last week, then it’s KG (9.95 SV), Kaia (10 SV), RJ (10 SV), Ki (9.95 SV), Elise (10 SV) and H2 (10 SV). I think this is a hit lineup, though I could see Dakota getting a try. As for exhibitions, I’d love to see Ayla doing either her Y1.15 or Full, or Olivia’s tucked Y 1.5.
- “One of our goals coming from last year was to start stronger on vault, and certainly, we worked pretty hard on it over the summer and in the preseason,” Shannon said after the OU meet. “A lot of it’s just putting in some numbers and focusing on technique.”
- Bars Analysis: The last two weeks’ lineup went Addi, LMac, Liv, H2, Ki & Makayla. Though my advice wasn’t followed last week, I’d still like to see Hannah as anchor as her scoring potential is massive. If any lineup changes are made, I’m thinking it’s Kaia, who had a massive bars routine at Black & Gold, or Maiya, who for two weeks straight went 9.80-9.85 in exhibition. I’d also love to see Sara Wabi, an Illinois State bars mainstay with high scoring potential and/or freshman Hayli Westerlind, in exhibition.
Beam Analysis: Through three weeks, there hasn’t been a lot of changes in this lineup, so I’m sure it will be some combo of Amy, LMac, Liv, RJ, Addi and a sixth. Based on last week’s awesome 9.875, I’d give it to Kaia.
Depending on how GAD’s foot injury is doing, I’d like to see her again in exhibition, as well as Ki if she’s ready. Hell, give KG another shot or Lisa, who does a beautiful routine.
Floor Analysis: The Fab Floor in Week 3 was pretty damn fab, and should have scored higher, and I feel like this crew is pretty locked in. Ayla has come on sooooo strong. We know Ki can do a fabulous routine, so she’s one to watch here, and I keep mentioned that I’m still waiting on Dakota’s Stick It routine. I also know Rayna was an alternate last week as she warmed up, so keep an eye on her as well. Remember, she had a 9.925 last year.
Records Watch
- Balance Beam: 49.575, broken/tied three times in 2025 (at ARK in March 2025, SEC Champs in March 2025, Seattle Regionals Rd 2, April 2025)
- Uneven Bars: 49.600, scored at Mizzou Quad, March 10, 2024
- Vault: 49.500, scored at Illinois Quad, March 17, 2024
- Floor Exercise: 49.725, scored at Zou to the Lou, February 14, 2025
- Best Away Score: 197.85, scored at Arkansas, February 24, 2023
- Overall Score: 198.100, scored vs. Auburn, March 9, 2025
Great Expectations
🌟FOUR GOOD ROTATIONS with season highs in two of the four apparatuses.
🌟A 197.400 or higher, which would be their best score to date, and is a 49.35 average on each apparatus. This is totally doable. With the new NQS formula, this meet will count for the entirety of the season.
🌟Good vault landings! I’m looking for a 49.35-49.40 this week.
🌟LANDINGS LANDINGS LANDINGS. On bars (especially), and beam, though beam was very sticky in Week 3.
🌟A 49.500+ on floor (they had a 49.425 last week), and they are a better floor team than Auburn, who currently has the top FX score in the country. While at a different venue, the Tigers broke their floor record against Bama last year, with a 49.725 in St. Charles (Zou to the Lou). They also have a 49.700 as a road score, set at Illinois in 2024.
