Mya Hooten and the Minnesota gymnastics team have been one of the greatest love stories. Over the years, Hooten has been one of the biggest stars for the Gophers, helping her team win some significant games in the past. However, just like all good things must come to an end, Hooten’s career, too, has finally come to a stop. But just like the champion that she has been all her life, her last act, too, was absolutely phenomenal. Hooten not only helped her team to achieve success, but also left an analyst in tears.
Mya Hooten was the lone Golden Gopher to qualify for the nationals as an individual. Taking the center stage for one final time at the 2025 NCAA Gymnastics Championships, Hooten made sure that she was at her absolute best. Dropping an impeccable 9.8875 on the floor, Hooten steered Missouri to their very first NCAA finals qualification. Going neck and neck with Florida, Missouri managed to edge past them with a score of 197.300.
And this was not all. Mya Hooten also added some significant feathers to her crown. Tied for fifth out of all floor competitors during the first session. And with such an incredible performance, Hooten had the honor to earn the NCAA Championships Second Team All-America honors. While this was the 13th occasion of her getting the honor, this made analyst Olivia Karas break down in tears.
I sobbed. @GopherWGym pic.twitter.com/sbN1bjUlR0
— Olivia Karas (@olivia_karas) April 17, 2025
In a recent video uploaded on social media, Karas could be spotted engrossed fully in Hooten’s routine. With each twist and turn, Karas’ expressions got more intense. Finally, as Hooten secured her victory, Karas could not help but sob silently. Meanwhile, while things came to a satisfying end for Mya Hooten, a glance at her career will further help to understand the expanse of Hooten as a an athlete.
Mya Hooten’s perfect finish in the final NCAA floor routine
When Mya Hooten stepped onto the floor at the NCAA Championships, it wasn’t just another routine. It was the final exclamation point on one of the most decorated collegiate gymnastics careers in Minnesota history. A nine-time Perfect 10 scorer on floor, Hooten performed her last dance seeking a fairytale ending on the event she has long dominated.
Her legacy sparkles with national recognition. A two-time NCAA First Team All-American on floor, three-time Big Ten Floor Champion, and WCGA First Team All-American for four straight years. She’s earned titles across all four events, including vault and bars, but the floor is where she truly etched her name into Gopher lore. “I was super hyper and my mom decided to put me in gymnastics,” Hooten once said. From that energetic beginning to now, she’s captivated fans with charisma and power.
This year, she returned to her iconic Beyoncé routine—one that previously earned her three Perfect 10s—and brought it back for her swan song. She’ll face fierce competition, including Olympian Jade Carey, but if Hooten delivers one last flawless performance, she could leave college gymnastics the same way she performed it, unforgettable, unshakable, and unmatched.
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