5 Can’t-Miss Dual Meets for the 2026-27 Women’s College Swim Season
There’s no atmosphere quite like a college swimming dual meet. Cheers and screams echo across the pool deck, bouncing from wall-to-wall. And there’s an opportunity to see some of the best athletes in the nation, and even the world, compete against each other.
Every year, we take a look at some of the best dual meets on the men’s and women’s side for the upcoming season. This year, in women’s action, there’s more than ever to look forward to. We’ll get the chance to witness multiple rivalry meets, duals between superstars, and even a conference championship preview.
Here’s a look at five can’t-miss dual meets for the 2026-27 women’s college swim season.
No. 10 Florida at No. 12 Georgia – October 30
No rivalry has shifted more over the past decade than Florida-Georgia. The Bulldogs and Gators have been elite programs for years, showcasing impressive consistency and top-end talent. Yet, their dual meets have been anything but consistent. The Bulldogs won the yearly matchup four straight times from 2017-2021, but the Gators have won the last four.
This year promises just as much excitement as the past. Talented Florida junior Julie Brousseau (fifth in the 500 freestyle at the 2026 NCAA Championships) will look to build on an impressive sophomore year and is likely to clash with Georgia sophomore Kennedi Dobson (third in the 500 free; sixth in the 1650 free) in distance action.
Can the Gators continue their win streak? Or will Georgia begin a new chapter?
No. 5 Indiana at No. 8 Louisville – January 29
Traveling for a road dual meet is never easy. The pressure of an uncomfortable environment, combined with an unfamiliar pool, makes for an uphill battle. If any squad can handle the challenge, though, it’ll be Ray Looze’s Hoosier squad. The team hasn’t lost a dual meet on the road since an early 2024 clash with Texas, winning against top teams like Michigan and Florida. And with top NCAA scorers Liberty Clark (second in the 200 free; fourth in the 100 free; sixth in the 50 free) and Miranda Grana (eighth in the 100 butterfly; eighth in the 200 backstroke) returning, Indiana should be ready.
The Cardinals, nevertheless, should make things difficult for Indiana. Star Anastasia Gorbenko (3rd in 200 breast, 4th in 200 IM and 100 breast), returns. The tandem of Summer Cardwell and Julie Mishler provide depth for Louisville, which was eighth in the team standings at last year’s NCAA Championships.
No. 9 N.C. State at No. 1 Virginia – January 22
It’s rare to see the Virginia Cavaliers tested during the college swimming regular season. Coach Todd DeSorbo’s squad hasn’t won a meet by fewer than 50 points in three years and hasn’t lost a dual meet since 2022, when Texas topped the Cavs. It’s unlikely for this year to be much different. But if they’re going to be challenged in the ACC this season, it’ll almost certainly be Braden Holloway’s N.C. State squad.
The Wolfpack have a young and talented group of swimmers, including Eneli Jefimova, the reigning NCAA champion in the 100 breaststroke. Talented backstrokers Erika Pelaez (third in the 200 backstroke; fourth in the 100 back) and Leah Shackley (sixth in the 100 back; seventh in the 200 back) are big scorers.
The Cavaliers have a jaw-dropping amount of talent, including Sara Curtis and Anna Moesch in the freestyle events to Claire Curzan as the reigning NCAA champion in both backstroke events. Adding firepower is Teagan O’Dell, a transfer from Cal who was a three-event finalist at last year’s NCAAs.
No. 6 Michigan at No. 5 Indiana – January 8
No swimming conference has been more difficult to predict over the past few years than the Big Ten. There have been three different champions over the past three years, each winning by slim margins. Two of those former champions will face off in a potential preview of this year’s championship, as the Wolverines take on the Hoosiers. It’s a meet that came down to the wire last year, with Michigan winning by just eight points.
Multi-event standout Bella Sims, the defending NCAA champ in the 400 individual medley, can move around the lineup, depending on the Wolverines’ needs. Meanwhile, Hannah Bellard is coming off a strong summer in the long-course pool and was the third-place finisher at last year’s NCAA Champs in the 200 butterfly.
Indiana’s aforementioned stars will be ready in Bloomington, and the Hoosiers added some pop over the summer when breaststroke star Anita Bottazzo announced her transfer from Florida.
No. 2 Stanford at No. 7 California – January 29
Every year, this meet is among the best, and for good reason. The Golden Bears and the Cardinal have both established a championship standard, making every meet between them a fierce battle. Last year, Stanford eked out a win on the road, winning by just nine points. The team will have serious questions to answer this season, though, after stars Lucy Bell and Torri Huske graduated. Senior Caroline Bricker (fifth in the 200 fly; sixth in the 400 IM) will be a go-to performer, along with sprinter Annam Olasewere.
Cal, on the other hand, returns most of their talent from a season ago. Their gifted recruiting classes from the past two years will be back for more, led by Claire Weinstein, the defending NCAA champ in the 500 freestyle. France’s Mary-Ambre Moluh is one of the best backstrokers in the world, while freshman Rylee Erisman is an instant factor.
