STUNT, the fast-paced head-to-head sport derived from cheerleading, just scored a monumental victory. The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics (CWA) has formally recommended that Divisions I, II, and III sponsor legislation to create a national collegiate STUNT championship — a pivotal step in the process of earning full NCAA championship sport status.
The vote, taken during the committee’s meeting on Thursday, moves STUNT into the final stages of official NCAA adoption. If approved, the sport’s first national collegiate championship is projected for Spring 2027.
“This recommendation is a reflection of the athletes, coaches and campuses who saw what STUNT could become and made it happen,” said Ragean Hill, co-chair of the CWA and executive associate athletics director at Charlotte. “STUNT has carved out its own space by embracing what makes it distinct — intensity, precision and the athleticism of its student-athletes.”
To be eligible for NCAA championship status, a sport must be sponsored by at least 40 NCAA institutions at the varsity level and meet minimum contest and participant requirements. STUNT entered the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program in 2023 for Divisions I and II, and in 2024 for Division III. It crossed the 40-school threshold during its first year as an emerging sport across all three divisions. According to NCAA sports sponsorship data from the 2023-24 academic year, 45 schools reported plans to sponsor STUNT for the 2024-25 season, including 24 in Division II, 14 in Division III, and 7 in Division I. The committee also recommended that all three divisions sponsor legislation to establish a National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Championship, pending official confirmation of the sport’s sponsorship and participation numbers.
“The NCAA is, once again, expanding championship opportunities to women athletes nationwide,” said Marion Terenzio, president of SUNY Cobleskill and co-chair of the CWA. “The addition of STUNT, which started in 2010, demonstrates the NCAA’s commitment to its mission to grow the college sports ecosystem.”
STUNT was among the fastest-growing female sports in the U.S. last year—a testament to its rapid rise through collegiate athletics and strong pipeline from high school and club programs.
“This is a monumental moment for STUNT and for women’s collegiate athletics,” said Lauri Harris, Executive Director of USA Cheer. “To become the fastest NCAA emerging sport to reach this stage speaks volumes about the energy, passion, and commitment that define our athletes, coaches, administrators, and supporters. STUNT was built to create new opportunities for young women to compete at the collegiate level, and today’s announcement powerfully affirms that vision. We are deeply grateful to the NCAA and its member institutions for recognizing the value of STUNT and excited for what this means for the future of the sport and the thousands of athletes it serves.”
What is STUNT?
STUNT removes the traditional crowd-leading aspect of cheer and focuses purely on athletic performance. Teams go head-to-head across four quarters featuring partner stunts, pyramids, jumps, and tumbling. Governed by USA Cheer, the sport is designed for scalability, requiring only a standard gymnasium and structured as a double-elimination tournament.
“This vote means the world to me and everyone in the STUNT community,” said Maddie Arochi, a junior at California Baptist. “It’s a powerful moment of recognition for all the hours of hard work, discipline and passion we’ve dedicated. It’s not just about us—it’s about paving the way for the next generation of STUNT athletes across the country.”
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What’s Next?
Following the CWA’s recommendation, the path to STUNT’s first NCAA championship includes:
- Proposal sponsorship by each division by the 2025-26 legislative cycle deadline.
- A full membership vote during the 2026 NCAA Convention in Washington, D.C.
- Formation of an NCAA STUNT Committee in January 2026 to oversee championship preparation.
If adopted, the first NCAA national collegiate STUNT championship will take place in spring 2027.
STUNT would join a list of sports promoted to full championship status via the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program, including rowing (1996), ice hockey (2000), water polo (2000), bowling (2003), and women’s wrestling (2025). In 2023-24, emerging sports accounted for more than 5,000 participation opportunities—an increase of over 30% from the previous year.
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