By Tanner Lafever
USA Wrestling

By this point, you no longer have to squint to see the fast-approaching 2026-27 season on the horizon.

In fact, a week from now, our next Women’s College Notebook feature will officially transition from ‘preseason’ to in-season variety.

And after seven-plus months since last year’s postseason concluded, it’ll be a thrill to have actual college wrestling in front of us once again.

But until that (glorious) moment arrives, there is one last week of big-picture table setting to be done.

So, if you’ll allow me, here are some of the things I’m most looking forward to about this year’s women’s college wrestling season.

Big events/matchups everywhere you look 

One of the many great features of women’s college wrestling is that its structure provides marquee events throughout the calendar.

Obviously, the NCAA/NAIA Championships and NWCA National Duals stand out as the pillars of the schedule. But littered around them are numerous high-level competitions which have grown (or are growing) to become their own intrinsic part of the season.

I’ve highlighted several of those marquee events below – at least two of which occupy each month on the calendar:

• Missouri Valley Open (Nov. 13-14)

• Adrian Duals/Adrian Open (Nov. 14-15)

• NWCA All-Star Classic (Nov. 24)

• North Central Women’s Invite (Dec. 13)

• Women’s Midlands Championships (Dec. 30)

• NWCA National Duals (Jan. 8-9)

• For Her Duals (Jan. 23-24)

• Warrior Women’s Open (Jan. 29-30)

• Grand View Open (Feb. 6)

• NCAA Regional Championships (Feb. 19-21)

• NAIA Conference Championships (Feb. 19, 26-27)

• NCAA Championships (Mar. 5-6)

• NAIA National Championships (Mar. 12-13)

As a byproduct, whether it’s via dual or individual tournament format, many of the best wrestlers from around the country become quite familiar with one another long before the postseason arrives – which only adds storylines on top of the baked-in championship drama.

All of this means that there’s rarely a ‘lull’ to be found during the women’s season. And if you do feel as though you’re in one, it might just be because you don’t know where to look for the latest must-see competition.

(Fear not, that’s why I’ll be here each and every week to help point you in the right direction.)

How do team title pictures develop? 

At this time last year, you’d have been hard-pressed to find a casual fan who didn’t presume the University of Iowa would continue its run of national team/dual titles for a third consecutive year.

After all, the Hawkeyes had yet to lose in either format during their first two seasons as a program.

And yet, as I detailed in an earlier notebook, neither would come to fruition in 2026 – with McKendree dethroning Iowa at NCAAs and North Central knocking off both the Hawkeyes and Bearcats two months prior at National Duals.

All three programs have lost some key cogs from last year’s team(s). However, each has shown an ability to reload – with a member of the trio winning each of the past seven NCWWC/NCAA team titles:

• McKendree (2020-22, 2026)

• Iowa (2024-25)

• North Central (2023)

As for who could challenge them – or at least throw a wrench in things in some form/fashion – look no further than the teams that placed 4-7 at last year’s NCAA Championships.

Grand Valley State was just 13.5 points behind North Central last March. And though the Lakers must replace three NCAA finalists (including three-time champion Katie Lange), a strong foundation remains, which will be bolstered by an infusion of young talent.

Meanwhile, fifth-place Presbyterian will be banking on continued improvement from its eight returning All-Americans.

If any team is primed for a big jump, it could be Lehigh – which placed sixth in its debut season led by 110-pound champ Audrey Jimenez. The Mountain Hawks have added an excellent recruiting class to their returning core.

And don’t lose track of seventh-place King, either – which will feature an intriguing blend of returnees and transfers.

As for the NAIA landscape, much has changed since Life University became the back-to-back national champions.

The Running Eagles (who’ve also won four of the past five National Duals titles) lost three all-time program greats in the McBryde sisters (Jamilah, Latifah and Zaynah) – plus several other major pieces in their recent run of championships.

That said, the runners-up to Life at both NAIAs (William Penn) and National Duals (Providence) have not only undergone massive roster overhauls, but each features a brand-new head coach as well.

Perhaps all the upheaval opens the door for Grand View – which returns six All-Americans after placing third at each of last season’s championship events.

Which new stars/storylines emerge? 

During last week’s notebook, I catalogued the returning champions to the collegiate scene and identified a few newcomers to keep an eye on.

But if I’m sure of anything, it’s that more than one someone (or team) will emerge from off-the-radar to have a major/memorable impact on the 2026-27 season.

Last year, Valarie Solorio (103 pounds) won an NCAA title a year after not even cracking Iowa’s postseason lineup.

Meanwhile, North Central true freshman Riley Rayome (117) was seconds away from a national title of her own – a runner-up finish further stamping a stellar debut season that many wouldn’t have predicted a few months prior.

So, for as much as these previews – both preseason and during the weeks/months to come – are about me trying to highlight the top names and storylines to watch, the fun of it all is that I won’t possibly be able to foresee everything.

Because just like any match is a mystery until the final whistle blows, so too, is any season until every team/individual champion has been crowned.

And with the 2026-27 edition officially getting underway next week, I can’t wait to be a part of the journey with all the athletes, coaches and fans who make it possible.