SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — Just like that, Carissa Moore’s reign atop the world of women’s surfing is over.
The top-seeded Moore, the World Surf League women’s champ since 2019, was dethroned Thursday by rival Stephanie Gilmore, the Australian who beat the top-seeded Moore head-to-head in a best two-of-three heats setting at Lower Trestles to claim the 2022 WSL title.
What You Need To Know
Stephanie Gilmore of Australia defeated Hawaii’s Carissa Moore in the Rip Curl World Surf League Finals at Lower Trestles Beach in San Clemente, Calif., on Thursday, ending Moore’s run of WSL championships going back to 2019
Moore was the No. 1 seed after the regular season and was afforded byes into the championship head-to-head matchup, while Gilmore, the No. 5 seed, had to earn her way into the final by defeating the Nos. 4, 3 and 2 seeds in succession on the same day
Gilmore outpointed Moore in two straight heats for the title and broke a tie with Layne Beachley for the most WSL championships among women with her eighth, and first since 2018
Moore took to social media to congratulate Gilmore
