The NCAA Division I Women’s Rowing Championship has officially announced its field for 2026, featuring a total of 22 teams. The event will take place from May 29-31 at Lake Lanier Olympic Park in Gainesville, Georgia, hosted by North Georgia and the City of Gainesville. Teams qualify through automatic selections based on conference performance and at-large bids. Each qualifying team must compete with two boats of eight rowers and one boat of four rowers. Stanford enters as the defending champion after winning in 2025.

By the Numbers
  • 22 teams will compete in the championship.
  • 10 automatic qualifiers secured their spots through conference standings.
State of Play
  • The championship field has been finalized with both automatic and at-large selections.
  • Boats will be seeded into four heats for the I Eights, II Eights, and Fours categories.
What's Next

The event is scheduled for late May, with teams preparing for competition. Seeding results will play a critical role in heat placements, impacting team strategies leading up to the championship. All races will be available for viewing via webcast.

Bottom Line

With a diverse field of teams and robust competition ahead, coaches and athletes are gearing up for an intense championship, highlighting the growing prominence of women's rowing in collegiate sports.