“It’s simply immature.” “She’s absolutely shading her former teammates—sad to see.” Comments like these swarmed social media last year as the unexpected split between Selena Harris-Miranda and UCLA Gymnastics sent shockwaves through the NCAA scene. The reason for her departure? Still unclear. But what was clear? Selena wasn’t waiting around.

The 12-time All-American packed her bags and headed to the Sunshine State, joining a powerhouse Florida Gators team under head coach Jenny Rowland. “A wealth of talent and experience,” Rowland called her—a glowing endorsement of the Nevada native’s prowess. And when the National Gymnastics Championships came calling on April 17, it seemed everything had aligned perfectly.

The Gators were prepped to face off against Oklahoma, Alabama, and Mizzou in the semifinals. Spirits were high, with a celebratory send-off outside the O’Connell Center honoring their fifth straight trip to Texas. But what began as a hopeful journey ended in heartbreak.

The final Four on the Floor berth came down to fractions—literally. Florida and Missouri went toe-to-toe until Mizzou edged out the Gators by a meagre margin of 0.075 points, thanks in part to a clutch bars rotation. In the final showdown, it was Florida on bars and Mizzou on beam. Then came the moment: Helen Hu delivered a jaw-dropping 9.9875 on bars, sealing Florida’s fate. Gutted? Yes. But fans found a silver lining in the form of Selena Harris-Miranda.

The transfer star was undeniably in her bag:

• 9.8750 on bars
• 9.950 on beam
• A dazzling floor routine that had the arena buzzing

The official Gators Gymnastics X account even dubbed her bars routine “a selena slay”—and fans weren’t about to disagree. But it wasn’t just Gator Nation who noticed. On X, LA Times Sports reporter Benjamin Royer pointed out the poetic twist: “If UCLA advances to the Four on the Floor, the Bruins will not match up against former UCLA gymnast Selena Harris-Miranda.” Ouch. Should that hurt? However, there had been signs of the storm. You may ask how.

On March 14, Selena dropped a perfect 10 in her beam routine. Later, she performed consistently. The pieces of evidence kept coming. Such as? On the second day of the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional, she dropped a 9.9 on the uneven bars. On the first day, she had the all-around score of 39.775, almost equaling Leanne Wong’s number on the same day. The fans didn’t forget these clutch performances. Today, despite the program’s elimination from the final run, they showed their love for the Gators’ junior. 

Selena Harris-Miranda earns the due love from the gymnastics fans 

“Selena Harris-Miranda at University of Florida has been a test administered by UCLA,” wrote one gymnastics fan on X—and let’s just say, it’s the kind of test with all the drama, plot twists, and emotional scoring deductions built right in. Sure, the Gators came this close to advancing—just 0.1000 points short, finishing third in the NCAA semifinal. A cruel margin. Enough to sting. Enough to trend. But while Florida’s championship dreams were dashed, their star transfer, Selena Harris-Miranda, lit up the floor like a woman on a mission.

Now, in just a few hours, her former squad—the UCLA Bruins—is set to take the stage. Will they qualify for the Four on the Floor? Only time will tell. But the comparison? The shadow? Already cast. Selena’s performance? Fans are still catching their breath. Forbes Sports journalist Carolina Price couldn’t hold back, tweeting: “W o w. Selena Harris with the best routine of this first rotation (so far)!” Another fan echoed the sentiment—but with a painful twist of reality: “Selena Harris cannot catch a break goddamn. Anyways, go Mizzou!!” But the crown jewel of the fan reactions? It came from a user who posted a meme-worthy image of LeBron James—that iconic one, looking tired, drenched in sweat, eyes wide—with the words “NO HELP” stamped across it. The caption?

“Selena Harris-Miranda today.” Brutal. Accurate. Viral. While the scoreboard may not have granted Selena a spot in the final showdown, her routines told a different story: one of grit, grace, and unmistakable star power. And with UCLA up next, fans can’t help but wonder—what if she hadn’t left? What if she had the help? Regardless, Selena made sure her name is still echoing through Texas. And this “test” isn’t over just yet.