College Swimming League Three Weeks from Debut; FMC Natatorium the Site of Opening Matches
Next month, the FMC Natatorium in Westmont, Illinois will serve as the site of the United States Trials for the World Short Course Championships. The competition will run in late October and select the Team USA roster for the World Champs in Beijing, slated for early December. But before that selection meet is held, Westmont will operate as the opening stop of the College Swimming League.
The CSL, headed into its first season, will feature 12 highly ranked NCAA programs in a format intended to showcase fast action in the pool and an engaging environment for spectators. The first two meets are three weeks away, scheduled for Sept. 24 and Sept. 25. The first two meets of the new venture will be broadcast on ESPN+.
The first match of the CSL season, on Sept. 24, will feature Indiana, Michigan, Ohio State and Louisville. A storyline for that clash is Louisville’s opportunity to battle with a trio of Big Ten Conference programs. A day later, on Sept. 25, competition will include North Carolina State, Virginia, Georgia and Alabama. The UVA women have won the last six NCAA team titles and are heavily favored to extend that streak at the 2027 edition of the NCAA Champs.
