The NCAA added women's wrestling to its Emerging Sports for Women program in June 2020, requiring 20 schools to qualify and 40 to reach championship status. Iowa became the first Power Five (Power Four now) program to sponsor the sport in September 2021, fueling rapid growth from just 23 programs in 2019 to over 50 by the time the threshold was cleared. NCAA divisions voted to elevate the sport to full championship status at the January 2025 convention, making it the NCAA's 91st championship sport. The inaugural NCAA Women's Wrestling Championships were held March 6–7, 2026, with McKendree claiming the first team title.