Thursday, September 24
Westmont, IL
6:30 p.m. ET
University of Louisville
vs
College Swimming League
Photo by: Nicole Finch | Louisville Athletics
No. 12/8 Cards Open Season at Inaugural College Swimming League
September 23, 2026 | Swimming & Diving
The brand-new league features 12 of the top teams in the nation
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The No. 12/8-ranked University of Louisville men's and women's swimming teams open their season at the inaugural College Swimming League on Thursday, Sept. 24 at FMC Natatorium in Westmont, Ill. The meet is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. ET and will be streamed on ESPN+.
The Cards are one of 12 teams that will be competing in the first season of the CSL. Other participating institutions include No. 10/1 Virginia, No. 2/5 Indiana, No. 8/2 Stanford, No. 5/4 Tennessee, No. 4/7 California, No. 8/6 Michigan, No. 7/9 NC State, No. 13/11 Ohio State, No. 15/12 Georgia, No. 18/15 Alabama, and No. 17/19 Auburn.
The CSL is a brand-new, dynamic league poised to revolutionize college swimming with high-octane fan-focused competition. CSL events are designed to deliver a high-quality competitive experience for student-athletes while enhancing presentation, pacing, and accessibility for fans and broadcast.
It will feature a six-match regular season and a two-match postseason in a four-team match format, with each participating institution competing in two regular season matches. More information about the CSL competition rules and format can be found at collegeswimmingleague.com/rules.
TEAM NOTES
The women will start each event followed by the men
200 Backstroke
200 Breaststroke
500 Freestyle
4x50 Freestyle Relay
200 Butterfly
100 IM
100 Backstroke
100 Freestyle
Skins
200 IM
100 Breaststroke
50 Freestyle
100 Butterfly
200 Freestyle
Super Skins
For the latest information on Louisville Swimming & Diving, visit GoCards.com, or follow the team's Instagram and X accounts at @louisvillesd or on Facebook at facebook.com/LouisvilleSD.
The Cards are one of 12 teams that will be competing in the first season of the CSL. Other participating institutions include No. 10/1 Virginia, No. 2/5 Indiana, No. 8/2 Stanford, No. 5/4 Tennessee, No. 4/7 California, No. 8/6 Michigan, No. 7/9 NC State, No. 13/11 Ohio State, No. 15/12 Georgia, No. 18/15 Alabama, and No. 17/19 Auburn.
The CSL is a brand-new, dynamic league poised to revolutionize college swimming with high-octane fan-focused competition. CSL events are designed to deliver a high-quality competitive experience for student-athletes while enhancing presentation, pacing, and accessibility for fans and broadcast.
It will feature a six-match regular season and a two-match postseason in a four-team match format, with each participating institution competing in two regular season matches. More information about the CSL competition rules and format can be found at collegeswimmingleague.com/rules.
TEAM NOTES
- The men's team finished the 2025-26 season ranked No. 12 in the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America Poll. Louisville capped last season with a 12th place finish at the NCAA Championships.
- Nikita Sheremet looks to build off his stellar freshman season after earning individual All-American honors in the 50-yard free (first team) and 100-yard free (second team) last year. The sophomore also secured All-American honors in the 200-yard free relay (first team), 200-yard medley relay (second team), 400-yard free relay (second team) and 400-yard medley relay (second team). Sheremet recently became a European Champion in the 50-meter free with a time of 21.13, which currently ranks No. 3 in the world and No. 7 all-time.
- The women's squad closed last season ranked No. 8 in the CSCAA Poll. The Cards closed last season with an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Championships.
- Anastasia Gorbenko returns to UofL claiming First Team All-American honors in the 100-yard breast, 200-yard breast and 200-yard IM last season. She also added First Team All-American honors in the 200-yard medley relay, 400-yard medley relay and 400-yard free relay, while notching Second Team honors in the 800-yard free relay.
- The Cardinal men enter the season ranked No. 12 in the CSCAA Preseason Poll, while the Louisville women are ranked No. 8 to start the year.
The women will start each event followed by the men
200 Backstroke
200 Breaststroke
500 Freestyle
4x50 Freestyle Relay
200 Butterfly
100 IM
100 Backstroke
100 Freestyle
Skins
200 IM
100 Breaststroke
50 Freestyle
100 Butterfly
200 Freestyle
Super Skins
For the latest information on Louisville Swimming & Diving, visit GoCards.com, or follow the team's Instagram and X accounts at @louisvillesd or on Facebook at facebook.com/LouisvilleSD.
Players Mentioned
IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Sprint
/ Swimming & DivingSaturday, March 28
Wednesday, March 25
Saturday, March 21
Friday, March 20
