The NCAA Division I has voted in favor of adding women’s wrestling as a championship sport, according to USA Wrestling. Divisions II and III will vote Friday. Women’s wrestling, which has been on the Olympic program since 2004, would become the NCAA’s 91st championship sport.

The NCAA approved the addition of women’s wrestling at the Division I, II and III levels as a championship sport, it announced Friday. The sport’s first NCAA women’s championship will take place in 2026.

Women’s wrestling is the sixth emerging sport to earn NCAA championship status. Since the emerging sports program was established in 1994, five women’s sports have earned NCAA championship status: rowing (1996), ice hockey (2000), water polo (2000), bowling (2003) and beach volleyball (2015).

Wrestle like a girl.The NCAA recently approved women’s wrestling as the 91st championship sport at the Division One level. A move that inspires young female wre

NCAA Convention, women's wrestling was voted to become an official NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division III championship sport. The vote comes after several seasons of participation in the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program.

Wrestlers at a central Iowa club said the NCAA's decision to incorporate women's wrestling as a championship sport changes the potential for their wrestling careers.

In the 2025-26 academic year, a new national championship will join the NCAA tree of sports tournaments. The NCAA will sanction a wrestling tournament for women at the Division I, II and III levels, it announced Friday in the midst of the college sports governing body's annual convention in Nashville.