Some athletes leave shoes so big, it's a wonder anyone dares to lace them up. That's the scenario facing UCLA gymnastics as they bid farewell to the legendary Jordan Chiles.
A three-time Olympic medalist and four-time NCAA champion, Chiles dazzled fans and judges alike with 19 perfect 10s throughout her collegiate journey. Replacing such a powerhouse is no small feat.
Enter Alilah Alvarado, a rising senior and former BYU gymnast, who has decided to take her talents to UCLA, marking coach Janelle McDonald's first successful venture into the transfer portal. Alvarado, hailing from Rancho Cucamonga, California, has made a name for herself on the uneven bars and balance beam during her three seasons in Provo, Utah.
Alvarado was a staple in BYU's bars lineup, boasting a 9.845 NQS, tying for second on the team in 2026. Her standout moment on bars came back in 2024 as a freshman, when she scored a remarkable 9.900, a score that would have tied her for fourth among the 2026 Bruins. With UCLA losing top beam performers like Chiles and Ciena Alipio, Alvarado's prowess on the bars becomes an essential asset to the team.
Beyond her bars expertise, Alvarado also brought consistency to the beam, competing in 19 meets over her sophomore and junior years. Her 9.845 NQS in 2026 placed her second with the Cougars and would have been a solid fifth for the Bruins. A career-high beam score of 9.900 against Clemson on March 13 would have tied her for third among UCLA's top beam scores, underscoring her potential to shine in Westwood.
Alvarado's transfer from BYU, which finished third at the Big 12 tournament and exited in the second round of the NCAA regional round, to a UCLA team that narrowly missed the Final Four by a mere 0.1875 points, signals her readiness to step up to the challenge.
While Alvarado is the first transfer to join McDonald's squad, she won't be alone. She'll be part of a promising group of newcomers, including a stellar freshman class led by Zoey Molomo, a former U.S. national team member and Olympic Trials competitor. Joining Molomo are Michelle Pineda, who has shared training time with Molomo at Metroplex Gymnastics and earned four medals at the 2024 Pan American Championships, Cami Tassone, a Development Program Nationals titleholder in vault and all-around, and Brooke Katz, a Level 10 gymnast with three consecutive qualifications for the Development Program Nationals.
As UCLA looks to fill the void left by Chiles, the combination of Alvarado's experience and the fresh talent of the incoming class could very well position the Bruins to reclaim their spot among gymnastics' elite.
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