Entering the season without 10 seniors, things have gotten tougher for the LSU Tigers.

But navigating through the absence of Haleigh Bryant, Aleah Finnegan, Sierra Ballard, Olivia Dunne, etc., who are the faces to fill in the spots and lead the Tigers through 2026? Let’s take a look at these top 5 picks!

Kailin Chio

The spotlight shines the brightest on the 5’2 sophomore from Henderson, Nevada. Chio has earned eight First Team All-America honors in the 2026 season alone. The 67 individual event titles she has won have fueled her run as the 2026 SEC and WCGA Central Region Gymnast of the Year. 

With a total of 14 perfect scores and 15 All-America honors under her name, Kailin Chio remains the pivotal force for the Tigers.

Konnor McClain

The Las Vegas native brings in both national and international experiences on the floor, having been a member of the U.S. National Team since 2019. The Junior Tiger's 14 individual titles and 6 All-America honors speak for themselves.

Although she has only earned three perfect scores in her career, the all-around gymnast’s best is yet to come, and 2026 looks like the year for it.

Kaliya Lincoln

The quiet powerhouse of the Tigers, Lincoln, appeared in nine meets in her first season as a Tiger. She scored a 9.825 on her Vault debut in 2025 and recorded a career high 9.950 soon after. She also debuted on the floor with a score of 9.875.

Averaging a 9.838 on vault and a 9.892 on floor for the year, the sophomore earned First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2025. And time will show how she stacks up the numbers this year.

Ashley Cowan

A five-time Junior Olympic National Championships qualifier, this senior gymnast from Hillsborough has two scholastic All-American honors under her belt. Cowan was also the 2024 SEC Bars Champion and earned an All-SEC selection.

So far, Cowan’s career high remains the 9.950 she earned on the bars thrice. However, she’s primed to level up her game in 2026 and add to her three individual titles.

Amari Drayton

The fifth spot is secured for Amari Drayton, with the 2025 WCGA Regular Season All-American, two Scholastic All-American honors, and 2025 SEC Academic Honor Roll under her belt. The Junior Tiger’s career high remains a 9.975 on vault and a 4x 9.950 on the floor.

With three career titles, the 5’1 Texan is set to push the Tigers to higher ceilings in 2026.

With that being said, who are your top 5 picks? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Deblina Roy

Edited by

Sijo Paul