Correction: The original version of this article incorrectly stated that gymnast Selena Harris achieved three perfect 10s in 2024. In fact, she achieved four perfect 10s in 2024.
This post was updated May 15 at 5:18 p.m.
Selena Harris reached perfection four times in 2024.
In 2023, she formed a formidable duo with Olympian Jordan Chiles — surging the Bruins to nationals for the first time since 2019.
But with the Big Ten on the horizon, Harris will no longer don the blue and gold.
Harris – UCLA gymnastics’ top all-arounder – entered the transfer portal after being dismissed from the team Tuesday afternoon, a UCLA Athletics spokesperson confirmed to the Daily Bruin. The 2024 Pac-12 Gymnast of the Year earned First Team All-America honors on beam this season, finishing third at the NCAA championships.
As of 12:12 p.m. Wednesday, UCLA Athletics and coach Janelle McDonald declined to comment on the reasoning for dismissing Harris. Harris declined to comment on her dismissal and entrance into the transfer portal, but shared a message over Instagram to the Daily Bruin.
“Just wanna thank bruin nation fans for being the best supporters!” Harris wrote.
While UCLA faltered at the NCAA California Regional in Berkeley to miss out on the regional final and nationals, Harris emerged as the team’s most consistent gymnast – competing the all-around in all but one meet.
In the Bruins’ home finale on March 16, Harris notched the second-highest all-around total in program history, recording 10s on bars and vault, and 9.95s on floor and beam, respectively, en route to a 39.900 overall. She ended the season as the Pac-12’s all-around, vault and bars champion after helping lead UCLA to a second-place finish at the final Pac-12 championships.
The former No. 1 prospect in the nation – heading into the 2023 campaign – burst onto the scene in coach Janelle McDonald’s first year in Westwood. Harris scored routines at 9.95 or above on 15 occasions, capping off her stellar freshman season with a perfect 10 on vault to clinch UCLA’s trip to nationals.
Her freshman campaign was nothing short of historic.
Harris earned Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year honors, while the conference honored the Las Vegas local as Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Week six times – tying the record for most in a campaign.
But now Harris will depart Westwood alongside one other underclassman gymnast.
Freshman Alex Irvine announced her entry to the transfer portal on April 22, seemingly ahead of an incoming roster crunch with six incoming freshmen joining the fray in 2025.
And it’s not just the six new faces. The addition of freshman Sydney Barros after her return from injury and the potential comebacks of Ana Padurariu and Chiles from 2024 Paris Olympics qualification attempts will fill UCLA’s roster to the brim.
Additionally, four Bruin seniors – Chae Campbell, Frida Esparza, Sara Ulias and Katie McNamara – all hold an extra year should they decide to use it.
Time will tell where Harris ends up for the 2025 campaign, but UCLA’s B1G dreams dimmed Wednesday.
Contributing reports from Aaron Doyle, Daily Bruin reporter
