WORLDWIDE NEW QUEEN VERIFIED! Following an incredible performance, ESPN has officially crowned the Georgia Bulldogs Cheerleading Squad the #1 Cheer Team on the Planet.

The red and black confetti has barely settled, but the celebration is still in full swing across the University of Georgia. In a historic and unprecedented announcement, ESPN has declared the Georgia Bulldogs Cheerleading Squad the #1 Cheer Team on the Planet, ushering in a new era of dominance that reaches beyond football fields and championship courts.

From the bustling heart of Sanford Stadium to the international stage, the UGA cheer team has elevated their game — and the sport — to unparalleled heights. With a performance that combined flawless athleticism, mesmerizing synchronization, and true southern grit, the Bulldogs didn’t just win a title. They redefined excellence.

It was supposed to be just another routine. Another national stage, another competition, another crowd. But what unfolded at the 2025 Universal Cheer Invitational (UCI) was something different. The Georgia Bulldogs Cheerleading Squad took the mat with fire in their eyes and history in their hearts.

They knew they were good. But even they couldn’t have predicted the seismic impact of their routine — a high-octane, emotionally charged display of athleticism and artistry that stunned the judges, overwhelmed the crowd, and eventually made ESPN’s primetime feature spot.

With intricate stunts that defied gravity, tumbling passes that would rival Olympic gymnasts, and a level of synchronicity rarely seen even in military drill teams, the Bulldogs delivered a perfect routine. Zero deductions. Sky-high difficulty. And a commanding presence that left no room for doubt: Georgia didn’t come to play. Georgia came to claim the crown.

When ESPN’s sports analysts reviewed the footage, there was a unanimous reaction: awe. The network, which has recently expanded its coverage of spirit sports, was quick to respond to the buzz. Within 48 hours of the routine going viral online, ESPN released a statement:

It’s the first time ESPN has ever granted such a designation, and Georgia is now the gold standard.

To outsiders, it may seem like an overnight success. But ask anyone within the UGA spirit program, and they’ll tell you: this moment was years in the making.

Head Coach Savannah “Savvy” Brooks, herself a UGA alumna and former competitive cheerleader, has led the program for the past seven years. Her vision was clear from the beginning.

“We weren’t just training to win competitions,” Brooks explains. “We were training to inspire. To become the blueprint. Every practice, every conditioning session, every routine — it was about pushing the boundary of what cheerleading could be.”

Under Brooks’ leadership, the team implemented cross-disciplinary training programs, working with dancers, gymnasts, strength coaches, and sports psychologists. They studied biomechanics. They practiced mindfulness. And they learned how to perform, not just execute.

“There’s a science to what we do, but there’s also a soul,” says senior co-captain Jasmin Ortiz, a pre-med student from Atlanta. “We wanted to bring that soul to the mat. That Georgia fire.”

The now-legendary routine is already being studied by squads across the globe. Choreographed by Brooks and assistant coach Devin Mitchell, the performance was set to a custom-mixed soundtrack that paid homage to UGA’s rich history — from hip-hop beats that echoed Atlanta’s culture to orchestral swells that built suspense and drama.

It opened with a visual homage to UGA’s mascot, featuring pyramid builds that resembled a charging bulldog. From there, the energy only rose. Triple back handsprings. Helicopter tosses. A mid-routine switch-up that saw the entire backline vault forward into a human tunnel stunt.

When the final pyramid hit — a four-tier stunner with rotating flyers — the crowd leapt to its feet. Judges didn’t just nod. They stood and applauded.

One judge, speaking anonymously, said, “In 20 years of cheer judging, I’ve never seen a team combine that level of precision, innovation, and emotional resonance. They didn’t just win. They made history.”

What’s made Georgia’s win even more remarkable is the global reaction.

Across Europe, Asia, and South America, cheerleading federations and fan pages have shared clips of the Bulldogs’ performance. In Japan, a country known for its elite cheer discipline, the Tokyo Starlets posted a tribute video replicating Georgia’s key formations. In Brazil, local schools have started adopting Georgia-inspired warmups.

And back home in the U.S., hundreds of high school and college cheer programs are reaching out to UGA for clinics, mentorship, and insight.

“We’re being flooded with messages,” says team manager Kyle Brennan. “Everyone wants to learn from Georgia now. And we’re ready to share what we’ve built.”

Even the White House has taken notice. Sources confirm that the First Lady, herself a former collegiate cheerleader, is planning to invite the squad for a national recognition event later this summer.

For too long, cheerleading has battled outdated stereotypes — often being dismissed as a sideshow or reduced to sideline entertainment. But the Bulldogs are flipping that narrative on its head.

Their recognition by ESPN isn’t just a trophy. It’s a validation of the sport of cheerleading. It’s an acknowledgment of the sweat, strategy, and sacrifice that goes into elite performance.

“Cheerleading is one of the most physically demanding sports on earth,” explains sports scientist Dr. Alina Hendricks, who recently conducted a study on collegiate cheer athletes. “They train like gymnasts, condition like sprinters, and perform under pressure like top-tier musicians. Georgia’s win forces us to reconsider how we define athletic greatness.”

In the heart of Athens, the UGA Spirit Program headquarters is a whirlwind of activity. Banners hang from the ceilings. Trophy cases glisten. And the energy is infectious.

The cheer squad is made up of 40 athletes — a blend of flyers, bases, backspots, tumblers, and alternates. Each member brings a unique strength. And despite the intense competition, the team maintains a family-first culture.

“Trust is everything,” says junior base Trey Caldwell. “When you’re tossing someone 15 feet in the air, you better have built that trust off the mat too.”

They train five days a week, often for four to five hours per session. Recovery, nutrition, and mental resilience are all part of the formula.

“This isn’t a hobby,” says Ortiz. “It’s our passion. It’s our life.”

With the #1 ranking now cemented, Georgia is already looking to the future. Plans are in motion for a world tour, with exhibition performances in London, Seoul, and Sydney. There’s also talk of a Netflix documentary series, showcasing the behind-the-scenes grind of building a cheer empire.

Coach Brooks isn’t resting on her laurels either.

“This is just the beginning,” she says. “Being the best means you inspire others. And we’re ready to keep leading.”

The squad will also be launching the UGA Cheer Academy, a program aimed at mentoring young athletes and expanding access to competitive cheerleading, especially in underserved communities.

“We want every kid to know that cheerleading can open doors,” says Brennan. “Scholarships, leadership, even global recognition — it’s all possible.”

As fireworks explode above Sanford Stadium and fans chant “Go Dawgs!” with renewed pride, one thing is clear: this isn’t just a win for the University of Georgia. This is a win for the sport.

Cheerleading has a new queen. And her name is Georgia.

So when you hear the thunder of drums, when you see the flash of red and black, when you feel the rumble of 90,000 fans shaking the earth — know that you’re not just watching a cheer team. You’re witnessing greatness.

You’re witnessing the reign of the #1 Cheer Team on the Planet.

World, meet your new queen. And she barks.