GREENSBORO, N.C. – No. 14 California women's gymnastics got off to a hot start at the 2026 Atlantic Coast Conference Championship's second session featuring No. 7 Stanford, No. 15 Clemson and No. 20 NC State. The Golden Bears led through the first three rotations before ultimately finishing in third place in a tight contest at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. Cal put together a 196.900 overall, outscoring NC State's 196.500 but falling to Stanford (197.075) and Clemson (197.100). In session one, North Carolina scored a 196.025 while Pittsburgh put together a 194.450.
 
Freshman Tonya Paulsson was named the ACC's Newcomer of the Year, in addition to being crowned the all-around champion with a 39.425 at the competition. She is the first freshman in ACC history to win the all-around at the conference championships.
 
The Bears started the meet on their strongest event – uneven bars – and jumped out to an early lead with a 49.325 event score. Paulsson paced the Bears with a 9.950, her third of the season, to claim the ACC uneven bars championship title. Miki Aderinto received a 9.825 from the leadoff position before Mya Wiley, Annalise Newman-Achee and Sage Melkonian put up three straight 9.850 scores to lift the Bears to the rotation win.
 
Sarah Lee's career high-matching 9.900 balance beam routine earned the freshman a share of third place on the event and was the Bears' top score of the second rotation. Aderinto put up a 9.850 from the first spot in the lineup and Paulsson matched her score to help Cal put together a 49.150. The Bears had a slight 0.075 lead over Clemson at the midway point of the competition.
 
Cal kept it rolling on floor, seeing floor specialist CJ Keuneke earn a 9.875 on the event. Paulsson took a portion of silver on floor with a 9.925 routine as the Bears' anchor. Cal held onto its lead heading into the final rotation of the meet.
 
The Bears put together a 49.100 on vault, seeing Casey Brown post Cal's highest score on the event with a 9.850. Kyen Mayhew and Newman-Achee each received a 9.825, but the team's event score was not enough to take the ACC crown in the end.  
 
Three Cal gymnasts were named to the All-Championship team, which consists of the top six finishers on each event, in addition to the top two all-arounders. Paulsson (AA, UB, FX), Brown (V) and Lee (BB) all earned the honor.
 
Cal now awaits its postseason fate, with the NCAA Regionals selection show set for Monday at 9 a.m. PT.
 
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