Watch: NCAA Selection Show

KINGSTON, R.I. – For the third year in a row and the ninth time in program history, Rhode Island heard its name called during the official 2026 NCAA Women's Rowing Championship selection show Tuesday evening.

Fresh off the school's 12th Atlantic 10 Championship Saturday, the Rams were one of 22 teams named to the 2026 NCAA Women's Rowing Championship field. Team members gathered on campus to watch the selection show, which was hosted by Jeremiah Johnson and streamed live on NCAA.com.

One of 10 automatic bids in the field, the Rams were the seventh team revealed during the selection show. URI joined Boston University (Patriot League) and Northeastern (CAA) as the only teams to earn automatic bids for the third straight year. It was the seventh bid for the Rams in the last eight years.

Rhody was the seventh team unveiled during Tuesday's selection show. Team members, coaches and administrators gathered on campus to watch the selection show.

The 10 automatic qualifiers were the first teams revealed. In addition to URI, Boston University (Patriot League); Jacksonville (MAAC); Massachusetts (MAC); Northeastern (CAA); Oregon State (WCC); Princeton (Ivy League); Stanford (ACC); UCF (Big 12); and Washington (Big 10) received automatic bids.

The rest of the 22-team field received at-large bids, which are listed below.

The national championship will be held May 29-31 at Lake Lanier Olympic Park in Gainesville, Ga. The three-day regatta also includes the Division II and III national championships. 

In the Varsity 8 flight, the Rams will compete in Heat 4 against Massachusetts, Rutgers, Princeton, Yale and Miami (Fla.). Rhode Island also will open in Heat 4 of the Second Varsity 8 flight, competing against UMass, Rutgers, Priceton, Washington and Michigan. The Varsity 4 flight for Rhody will be Heat 3 against Northeastern, Princeton, Washington, Virginia and Ohio State.

The top two boats in each flight secure spots in the A/B semifinals on Saturday, May 30, while the rest of the teams move on to the C/D semifinals that day. The finals in each flight will be held on Sunday, May 31. Each flight has four sets of finals – D Final (places 19-22), C Final (places 13-18), Petite Final (places 7-12) and Grand Final (places 1-6).

All three days of the NCAA Championship will stream live on NCAA.com. Links and schedule will be added to GoRhody.com when the information becomes available.

The Rams placed 21st at the national championship in 2025. A year earlier, Rhody was 20th, the best finish in program history.

2026 NCAA Championship Field
Automatic Qualifiers
Boston University – Patriot League
Jacksonville – MAAC
Massachusetts - Mid-American
Northeastern – CAA
Oregon State – West Coast Conference
Princeton – Ivy League
Rhode Island – Atlantic 10
Stanford - ACC
Central Florida – Big 12
Washington – Big 10

At-Large Bids
Brown
California
Columbia
Miami (Fla.)
Michigan
Ohio State
Rutgers
Syracuse
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Yale