Sacramento State’s Ayahna Gonzales Wins National Title

First female boxer in program history becomes Sacramento State’s first boxing national champion at NCBA Championships

Ayahna Gonzales, a sophomore student-athlete in Sacramento State’s Combat U program, captured a national title at the 2026 National Collegiate Boxing Association (NCBA) Championships this past weekend, becoming the first national boxing champion in program history. Hosted from April 9 – 11, the NCBA Championships serve as the national stage for college boxing, wherein top athletes from programs across the country go toe to toe for the number one spot. In addition to emerging as champion, Gonzales was also awarded Most Outstanding Boxer at the
tournament, emphasizing her poise and presence in the ring.

Gonzales’ victory marks a significant milestone for Sacramento State and for Combat U as the program continues to grow within collegiate competition. Gonzales joined Combat U in 2024 as the first woman in Sacramento State’s boxing program and recorded the first win by a female boxer in school history. During the inaugural year, she went on to earn All-American honors, a designation awarded to top performers at the national level, before advancing to a national title this year. Launched in 2024, Combat U is the first university-backed combat sports initiative in the country.

Developed in partnership with Urijah Faber’s Ultimate Fitness, the program has engaged more than 600 students, offering structured training and competition opportunities while they pursue their
degrees. Gonzales trains under a family-led coaching staff, with her father serving as head coach and her mother as assistant coach. In addition to her athletic career, she is pursuing a degree in biomedical science at Sacramento State. Her national title represents an early benchmark for both Gonzales and the Combat U program as Sacramento State continues to expand opportunities in collegiate combat sports.

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