At the 2026 NCAA Convention, representatives from all three divisions voted to approve STUNT as an official NCAA championship sport. The first NCAA championship for STUNT is scheduled to take place in spring 2027.
STUNT was added to the Emerging Sports for Women program in Divisions I and II in 2023, with Division III following in 2024. The sport quickly met the requirement of having at least 40 schools participating and holding the minimum number of contests within its first year across all divisions.
Chloe Moxley, head coach, commented on the decision: “I have had the privilege of watching this sport gain support from the NCAA. From early proposals, to its establishment as an emerging sport, to the recommendation for championship status, and now official approval of STUNT advancing to NCAA Championship status. Through its own journey through the ebbs and flows, I have witnessed years of persistence and hard work finally come to fruition.”
STUNT modifies traditional cheerleading by introducing a four-quarter competitive format focused on athleticism and precision. Teams compete directly against each other in partner stunts, pyramids, jumps, and tumbling events with points awarded based on performance. With legislation approved across all three divisions, student-athletes will now be able to compete for a single national collegiate championship.
The addition of STUNT follows previous sports that achieved NCAA championship status through the Emerging Sports for Women program: rowing (1996), ice hockey (2000), water polo (2000), bowling (2003), beach volleyball (2015), and wrestling (2025).
Moxley further stated: “STUNT has given me more than I could ever ask for, from invaluable athletic experiences to my current role as a collegiate head coach. To its core, STUNT is about providing opportunities for women in sports, and for the past five years it has done exactly that for me. I am deeply grateful for the opportunities this sport continues to provide and for the chance to remain part of something so special.”
