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).

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.

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.

The addition of women's wrestling as the NCAA's 91st championship sport was approved at the NCAA convention this week.

Women’s wrestling took another big step on Wednesday, officially being approved as an NCAA championship sport by the Division I Council.

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 said in a press release that Divisions I, II and III approved the addition at the Association's annual convention this week in Nashville.

The NCAA has officially recognized women's wrestling as its 91st championship sport, marking a significant milestone for female athletes across the nation. This

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.