women's GYMNASTICS
When: Friday and Sunday
Where: SAP Center, San Jose, Calif.
What's at stake: USA Gymnastics will name its five-person women's Olympic team, plus as many as three replacement athletes, at the conclusion of Sunday's competition. The all-around champion at the trials will automatically qualify. The rest of the team will be chosen by a committee headed by U.S. women's national team coordinator Martha Karolyi, based on performances at the trials and at the U.S. championships last month.
TV: Ch. 11, 8 p.m. Friday, 7:30 p.m. Sunday
The schedule: Friday's competition begins at 7:30 p.m. CDT, and Sunday's starts at 7 p.m. Scores from both days count equally.
The field: Simone Biles, who has won four consecutive all-around titles at the U.S. championships and three at the world championships, is the runaway favorite in the field of 14. Maggie Nichols of Little Canada, who won a team gold and individual bronze on floor exercise at last fall's world championships, is working her way back from a knee injury and will compete in all four events for the first time since the American Cup in March. Other contenders include 2012 Olympic all-around champ Gabby Douglas, 2012 Olympic floor exercise gold medalist Aly Raisman and 2016 U.S. all-around bronze medalist Laurie Hernandez.
RACHEL BLOUNT
