GLOBAL NEWS: West Virginia Cheerleading Squad Named World’s Best by ESPN After Historic, Jaw-Dropping Performance Stuns Global Audience
In an unprecedented moment of triumph and athletic excellence, the West Virginia University (WVU) Cheerleading Squad has been named the world’s best cheerleading team by ESPN, following a breathtaking, history-making performance at the 2025 International Cheerleading Championship in Tokyo, Japan. The announcement stunned the global audience and marked a turning point not only for the Mountaineers but for the sport of cheerleading itself.
WVU’s squad, composed of 28 athletes, executed a routine that has since been described as “a gravity-defying spectacle of strength, synchronization, and spirit.” Blending precision tumbling passes, high-risk basket tosses, and formations that challenged the limits of human balance, the team delivered a four-minute performance that left the arena in absolute silence—followed by a thunderous standing ovation lasting nearly six minutes. The viral clip of their routine amassed over 80 million views on social media within 24 hours.
“It wasn’t just a cheer routine,” said renowned ESPN commentator Alyssa Morgan. “It was a symphony of motion—art and athleticism combined in a way we’ve never seen before on this stage.”
Their routine paid homage to Appalachian culture with a dramatic musical mash-up that began with banjo strings and evolved into an orchestral crescendo. Wearing deep navy and old gold uniforms adorned with shimmering accents, the squad told a visual story of resilience, pride, and power, choreographed to perfection by head coach Janelle Harkins. Harkins, a WVU alumna and former NCAA gymnast, spent two years engineering the routine, drawing from ballet, martial arts, and modern dance to create a style-defying performance that judges described as “genre-redefining.”
WVU’s win dethroned long-time champions from Japan and South Korea, who had dominated the global stage for over a decade. The scoring panel unanimously awarded WVU first place, citing their execution, originality, and the emotional impact of their routine. “They didn’t just perform,” said international judge Rafael Mendoza. “They made us feel.”
Back in Morgantown, fans flooded High Street in celebration, waving Mountaineer flags and singing the WVU fight song. The university’s president, Dr. Michelle Langston, declared May 22nd “Mountaineer Excellence Day,” recognizing the cheer squad’s contribution to both the school’s legacy and the global perception of collegiate cheerleading.
This victory also sparked conversations about elevating cheerleading to Olympic recognition, as international audiences called for the sport’s inclusion in future Games. ESPN, in its feature broadcast, declared the performance “a once-in-a-generation spectacle that redefines what we thought possible in cheerleading.”
As global headlines continue to praise their trailblazing triumph, the West Virginia Cheerleading Squad stands not just as champions, but as pioneers—athletes who soared, quite literally, beyond expectation and into history.
