UCLA’s gymnastics world has recently been shaken by the abrupt departure of their star performer, Selena Harris. The 2024 Pac-12 Gymnast of the Year and a 12-time All-American, has been dismissed from UCLA’s gymnastics team. Yet, the reasons behind the dismissal still seem to be behind the curtains. Harris’s tenure with the Bruins came to an unexpected end on May 14. The sudden exit, coupled with her activity on social media hinting at underlying tensions has sent ripples through the gymnastics domain. But amid all the uncertainty Harris quickly pivoted to brighter horizons. 

Within a month of Selena Harris’ exit from UCLA, she joined the ranks of the Florida Gators for the 2025 season. On June 18, the Instagram account of Florida Gators Gymnastics officially welcomed the standout all-around gymnast to their team. But UCLA too has found its silver lining with the return of rising Mexican gymnast phenom, Frida Esparza for the fifth year.

Frida Esparza soars from toddler on the mat to UCLA Bruins’ star aiming for gymnastics glory 

The 23-year-old California-born gymnast became a part of UCLA Bruins Women’s Gymnastics as a freshman four years ago. And since the 2020-2021 season, Frida Esparza has graced a spot in the roster of UCLA Bruins. In her freshman year itself, Esparza finished in the fourth position on uneven bars in the PAC-12 Championships, 2021. The same year the UCLA squad finished as the second runner-up. A year before she joined the Bruins, she grabbed gold in the 2019 Guimaraes World Challenge Cup. Esparza has been a part of the ‘Head Over Heels’ gymnastics club and competes in the senior international elite NCAA level for UCLA Bruins under UCLA’s head coach, Chris Waller.

Frida Esparza stepped into the gravity-defying world of gymnastics when she was a kid of two. Esparza’s parents enrolled her in the sport, but she has been shining bright on the mat. Esparza holds dual citizenship in both the USA and Mexico. She started representing America on the global stage in 2016. But in 2018, she started flying the Mexican flag becoming the Mexican national all-around gymnastics champion. In the 2018 Pan American Games, she played for Mexico alongside gymnastics stars like Alexa Moreno, Natalia Escalera, and Paulina Campos. The Mexican squad also grabbed the bronze in the 2018 Pan American Games. 

Selena Harris’ shift to Florida Gators and Frida Esparza’s sparkling for UCLA create the backdrop for a dramatic season

On the other hand, Selena Harris was dismissed by UCLA Bruins and was in the transfer portal for a few weeks. And with two years of eligibility remaining for Harris as a college athlete, Florida Gators did not let go of the opportunity to have the 12-time All-American in their roster. Despite her impressive accolades and undeniable talent, UCLA has remained tight-lipped about the reasons behind Harris’ sudden dismissal. Neither UCLA nor Harris opened up about the story behind the abrupt change. But with Harris’ social media post, it might be the case, that some kind of tension brewing between the athlete and UCLA.

Now Selena Harris is glowing in the roster for Florida Gators for the upcoming season, and Frida Esparza continuing her journey with UCLA Bruins for the fifth year. With one star bidding farewell and another making a comeback, UCLA gymnastics is poised for a dramatic season ahead.