United States women's national water polo team

United States
FINA codeUSA
AssociationUSA Water Polo
ConfederationUANA (Americas)
Head coachAdam Krikorian
Asst coachMolly Cahill
Christoph Oeding
CaptainMaggie Steffens
FINA ranking (since 2008)
Current2 (as of August 9, 2021)
Highest1 (2009–2012, 2013–2019)
Lowest2 (2008, 2013, 2021)
Olympic Games (team statistics)
Appearances7 (first in 2000)
Best result (2012, 2016, 2020)
World Championship
Appearances17 (first in 1986)
Best result (2003, 2007, 2009, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2024)
World Cup
Appearances19 (first in 1979)
Best result (1979, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2023)
World League
Appearances18 (first in 2004)
Best result (2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
Pan American Games
Appearances7 (first in 1999)
Best result (2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023)
Pan American Championships
Best result (2013, 2024)
Media
Websiteusawaterpolo.org
Medal record
Women's water polo
Olympic Games
2012 London Team
2016 Rio de Janeiro Team
2020 Tokyo Team
2000 Sydney Team
2008 Beijing Team
2004 Athens Team
World Championship
2003 Barcelona Team
2007 Melbourne Team
2009 Rome Team
2015 Kazan Team
2017 Budapest Team
2019 Gwangju Team
2022 Budapest Team
2024 Doha Team
2005 Montreal Team
1986 Madrid Team
1991 Perth Team
World Cup
1979 Merced
2010 Christchurch
2014 Khanty-Mansiysk
2018 Surgut
2023 Long Beach
1980 Breda
1983 Sainte-Foy
1984 Irvine
1989 Eindhoven
2002 Perth
1991 Long Beach
World League
2004 Long Beach
2006 Cosenza
2007 Montreal
2009 Kirishi
2010 La Jolla
2011 Tianjin
2012 Changshu
2014 Kunshan
2015 Shanghai
2016 Shanghai
2017 Shanghai
2018 Kunshan
2019 Budapest
2020 Athens
2008 Santa Cruz
2013 Beijing
2022 Santa Cruz
Pan American Games
2003 Santo Domingo Team
2007 Rio de Janeiro Team
2011 Guadalajara Team
2015 Toronto Team
2019 Lima Team
2023 Santiago Team
1999 Winnipeg Team
Pan American Championships
2013 Costa Mesa
2024 Ibagué
Last updated: November 26, 2024

The United States women's national water polo team represents the United States in international women's water polo competitions and friendly matches. It is one of the leading teams in the world since the late 1990s. Women's water polo has been on the international stage since 1978 and was an exhibition sport at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics coached by Sandy Nitta before being introduced as a full medal sport in 2000.

On March 27, 2009, USA Water Polo named Adam Krikorian the head coach of the United States women's national team. Krikorian was the UCLA men's and women's water polo team head coach.[1][2]

Results

Major tournaments

Competitive record

Updated after the 2025 FINA Women's Water Polo World Cup.

Tournament Appearances Finishes
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place Total
Olympic Games 7 3 2 1 1 7
World Championship 17 8 1 2 2 13
World Cup 19 5 5 1 3 14
World League 18 14 1 2 0 17
Pan American Games 7 6 1 0 0 7
Total 68 36 10 6 6 58

Olympic Games

Main article: United States women's Olympic water polo team records and statistics
Year Result Pld W L D
2000 Silver medal[3]: 56  7 4 2 1
2004 Bronze medal 5 3 2 0
2008 Silver medal 5 3 1 1
2012 Gold medal 6 5 0 1
2016 Gold medal 6 6 0 0
2020 Gold medal 7 6 1 0
2024 4th place 7 4 3 0
Total 3 Titles 43 31 9 3

World Championship

Year Result Pld W L D
1986 Bronze medal[3]: 57  8 4 2 2
1991 Bronze medal 6 3 2 1
1994 4th place 7 4 2 1
1998 8th place 7 2 4 1
2001 4th place 8 5 2 1
2003 Gold medal 6 6 0 0
2005 Silver medal 7 4 2 1
2007 Gold medal 6 6 0 0
2009 Gold medal 7 6 1 0
2011 6th place 6 3 2 1
2013 5th place 7 6 1 0
2015 Gold medal 7 6 1 0
2017 Gold medal 6 6 0 0
2019 Gold medal 6 6 0 0
2022 Gold medal 6 6 0 0
2023 5th place 6 5 1 0
2024 Gold medal 6 6 0 0
Total 8 Titles 112 84 20 8

World Cup

Year Result Pld W L D
1979 Gold medal[3]: 67  4 3 0 1
1980 Silver medal 4 2 1 1
1981 4th place —
1983 Silver medal 6 3 2 1
1984 Silver medal —
1988 4th place
1989 Silver medal
1991 Bronze medal
1993 5th place
1995 6th place
1997 7th place
1999 6th place 5 2 2 1
2002 Silver medal 5 3 1 1
2006 4th place 5 3 2 0
2010 Gold medal 6 5 1 0
2014 Gold medal 6 6 0 0
2018 Gold medal 6 6 0 0
2023 Gold medal 9 7 2 0
2025 Division 1[4] 6 1 5 0
Total 5 Titles 62 41 16 5

World League

Year Result Pld W L D
2004 Gold medal[3]: 78  5 4 1 0
2005 5th place 14 10 4 0
2006 Gold medal 12 10 2 0
2007 Gold medal 7 7 0 0
2008 Silver medal 6 5 1 0
2009 Gold medal 5 5 0 0
2010 Gold medal 3 3 0 0
2011 Gold medal 3 3 0 0
2012 Gold medal 10 10 0 0
2013 Bronze medal 3 2 1 0
2014 Gold medal 12 11 1 0
2015 Gold medal 12 12 0 0
2016 Gold medal 11 11 0 0
2017 Gold medal 12 11 1 0
2018 Gold medal 11 10 1 0
2019 Gold medal 12 12 0 0
2020 Gold medal 6 6 0 0
2022 Bronze medal 11 8 3 0
Total 14 Titles 155 140 15 0

Pan American Games

Year Result Pld W L D
1999 Silver medal 6 3 3 0
2003 Gold medal 6 5 0 1
2007 Gold medal 7 7 0 0
2011 Gold medal 5 5 0 0
2015 Gold medal 5 5 0 0
2019 Gold medal 6 6 0 0
2023 Gold medal 6 6 0 0
Total 6 Titles 41 37 3 1

Minor tournaments

The United States is usually represented by a U20 team in these competitions.

Summer Universiade

Year Result
2011 Silver medal
2013 8th place
2015 5th place
2017 Gold medal
2019 8th place
Total 1 Title

Pan American Championships

Year Result
2009 Cancelled [5]
2011 Did not participated
2013 (A)
2013 (B) Gold medal
2015 Did not participated
2017 Not scheduled
2018
2019 Did not participated
2021 Cancelled
2023 Did not participated
2024 Gold medal
Total 2 Titles

Holiday Cup

Year Result
1998 Silver medal
1999 Bronze medal
2000 Gold medal
2001 Gold medal
2002 Gold medal
2003 Gold medal
2004 Gold medal
2006 Gold medal
2007 Bronze medal
Total 6 Titles

Kirishi Cup

Year Result
2014 Gold medal
Total 1 Title

World Games

Year Result
1981 Silver medal (World Cup team)
Total 0 Title

Olympic Year Tournament

Year Result
1996 7th place
Total 0 Title

Team

Current squad

Roster for the 2025 FINA Women's Water Polo World Cup.[6]

Head coach: Adam Krikorian

  • 1 Amanda Longan GK
  • 2 Allison Cohen DF
  • 3 Tara Prentice CF
  • 4 Malia Allen AT (L)
  • 5 Chrissy Flynn AT
  • 6 Lucy Haaland-Ford DF
  • 7 Maryn Dempsey AT
  • 8 Charlotte Raisin AT
  • 9 Jovana Sekulic CF
  • 10 Maggie Ryan UT
  • 11 Sam Hofley UT
  • 12 Lily Palma CF
  • 13 Isabel Williams GK
  • 14 Natalia Szczerba AT (L)
  • 15 Jailynn Robinson AT

Former squads

Olympic Games

World Aquatics Championships

World Cup

  • 1979 FINA World Cup – Lynn Comer, Laura Cox, Dion Dickinson, Vaune Kadlubek, Debby Kemp, Simone LaPay, Marsha McCuen-Kavanaugh, Sue McIntyre, Maureen O'Toole, Sallie Thomas, and Lyn Taylor.
  • 1981 FINA World Cup – Lynn Comer, Laura Cox, Ruth Cox, Debbie Decker, Leslie Entwistle, Karen Hastie, Vaune Kadlubek, Simone LaPay, Robin Linn, Sue McIntyre, Maureen O'Toole, Marla Smith

World League

Pan American Games

Other tournaments

Statistics

Olympic Games

Main article: United States women's Olympic water polo team records and statistics
Abbreviations
Rk. Rank Pos. Playing position App. Appearances
Ref. References A Attacker C Center
D Defender GK Goalkeeper U Utility

Age records

Top 10 youngest Olympians (Olympic medalists)
Rk. Player Pos. Birthdate Game Age of first app. Ref.
1 Aria Fischer C March 2, 1999 2016 17 years, 160 days [23]
2 Maddie Musselman A June 16, 1998 2016 18 years, 54 days [24]
3 Maggie Steffens A/D June 4, 1993 2012 19 years, 56 days [25]
4 Makenzie Fischer D March 29, 1997 2016 19 years, 133 days [26]
5 Ericka Lorenz A February 18, 1981 2000 19 years, 211 days [27]
6 Kelly Rulon A August 16, 1984 2004 20 years, 0 days [28]
7 Brenda Villa A April 18, 1980 2000 20 years, 151 days [29]
8 Annika Dries C February 10, 1992 2012 20 years, 171 days [30]
9 Kami Craig C July 21, 1987 2008 21 years, 21 days [31]
10 Jessica Steffens D April 7, 1987 2008 21 years, 126 days [32]
Top 10 oldest Olympians (Olympic medalists)
Rk. Player Pos. Birthdate Game Age of last app. Ref.
1 Maureen O'Toole March 24, 1961 2000 39 years, 183 days [33]
2 Heather Petri A June 13, 1978 2012 34 years, 57 days [34]
3 Brenda Villa A April 18, 1980 2012 32 years, 113 days [29]
4 Heather Moody C August 21, 1973 2004 31 years, 5 days [35]
5 Kathy Sheehy April 26, 1970 2000 30 years, 150 days [36]
6 Courtney Mathewson A September 14, 1986 2016 29 years, 340 days [37]
7 Betsey Armstrong GK January 31, 1983 2012 29 years, 191 days [38]
8 Kami Craig C July 21, 1987 2016 29 years, 29 days [31]
9 Lauren Wenger U March 11, 1984 2012 28 years, 151 days [39]
10 Kelly Rulon A August 16, 1984 2012 27 years, 359 days [28]

Most appearances

The following tables are pre-sorted by number of appearances, date of last appearance, date of birth, respectively.

Three athletes have each made at least three Olympic appearances. Heather Petri and Brenda Villa are the only two American female water polo players to have competed in four Olympic Games.

App. Name Pos. Birthdate Games as player Period Age of first app. Age of last app. Ref.
4 Heather Petri A June 13, 1978 2000 , 2004 , 2008 , 2012 12 years 22 years, 95 days 34 years, 57 days [34]
Brenda Villa A April 18, 1980 2000 , 2004 , 2008 , 2012 12 years 20 years, 151 days 32 years, 113 days [29]
3 Kami Craig C July 21, 1987 2008 , 2012 , 2016 8 years 21 years, 21 days 29 years, 29 days [31]

Two men have each made at least two Olympic appearances as head coaches of the United States women's national team.

App. Name Birthdate Games as head coach Period Age of first app. Age of last app. Ref.
3 Guy Baker 2000 , 2004 , 2008 8 years [40][41]
2 Adam Krikorian July 22, 1974 2012 , 2016 4 years 38 years, 8 days 42 years, 28 days [40]

Leading scorers

The following tables are pre-sorted by number of goals, date of the game (match), name of the player, respectively.

Maggie Steffens is the American female water polo player with the most goals at the Olympic Games, scoring 38.

Players with at least 12 goals at the Olympic Games
Rk. Player Pos. Games (goals) Total
goals		 Matches
played		 Goals
per
match		 Ref.
1 Maggie Steffens A/D 2012 (21) , 2016 (17) 38 12 3.166 [25]
2 Brenda Villa A 2000 (9) , 2004 (7) , 2008 (9) , 2012 (6) 31 23 1.347 [29]
3 Kami Craig C 2008 (6) , 2012 (6) , 2016 (5) 17 17 1.000 [31]
4 Courtney Mathewson A 2012 (7) , 2016 (7) 14 12 1.166 [37]
5 Maddie Musselman A 2016 (12) 12 6 2.000 [24]
Players with at least 8 goals in an Olympic tournament
Rk. Player Pos. Game Goals Matches
played		 Goals
per
match		 Ref.
1 Maggie Steffens D 2012 21 6 3.500 [25]
2 Maggie Steffens A 2016 17 6 2.833 [25]
3 Maddie Musselman A 2016 12 6 2.000 [24]
4 Kiley Neushul A 2016 10 6 1.666 [42]
5 Coralie Simmons 2000 9 7 1.285 [43]
Brenda Villa A 2000 9 7 1.285 [29]
Natalie Golda D 2008 9 5 2.250 [44]
Brenda Villa A 2008 9 5 2.250 [29]
9 Brittany Hayes A 2008 8 5 1.600 [45]
Players with at least 4 goals in an Olympic match
Rk. Player Pos. Goals Date Match Game Ref.
1 Maggie Steffens D 7 July 30, 2012   14–13  Hungary 2012 [25]
2 Maggie Steffens D 5 August 9, 2012   8–5  Spain 2012 [25]
3 Brenda Villa A 4 September 20, 2000   9–6  Kazakhstan 2000 [29]
Brenda Villa A 4 August 16, 2004   7–6  Hungary 2004 [29]
Natalie Golda D 4 August 11, 2008   12–11  China 2008 [44]
Courtney Mathewson A 4 July 30, 2012   14–13  Hungary 2012 [37]
Kami Craig C 4 August 1, 2012   9–9  Spain 2012 [31]
Maggie Steffens D 4 August 7, 2012   11–9  Australia 2012 [25]
Maddie Musselman A 4 August 11, 2016   12–4  China 2016 [24]
Maggie Steffens A 4 August 11, 2016   12–4  China 2016 [25]
Maggie Steffens A 4 August 13, 2016   11–6  Hungary 2016 [25]
Maggie Steffens A 4 August 17, 2016   14–10  Hungary 2016 [25]

Multiple medalists

Seventeen athletes have each won at least two Olympic medals in water polo. Heather Petri and Brenda Villa are the only two American female water polo players to have won four Olympic medals.

Rk. Name Pos. Games as player Medals Ref.
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 Heather Petri A 2000 , 2004 , 2008 , 2012 1 2 1 4 [34]
Brenda Villa A 2000 , 2004 , 2008 , 2012 1 2 1 4 [29]
3 Kami Craig C 2008 , 2012 , 2016 2 1 0 3 [31]
4 Courtney Mathewson A 2012 , 2016 2 0 0 2 [37]
Melissa Seidemann D 2012 , 2016 2 0 0 2 [46]
Maggie Steffens A/D 2012 , 2016 2 0 0 2 [25]
7 Betsey Armstrong GK 2008 , 2012 1 1 0 2 [38]
Jessica Steffens D 2008 , 2012 1 1 0 2 [32]
Lauren Wenger U 2008 , 2012 1 1 0 2 [39]
Elsie Windes D 2008 , 2012 1 1 0 2 [47]
11 Kelly Rulon A 2004 , 2012 1 0 1 2 [28]
12 Robin Beauregard C 2000 , 2004 0 1 1 2 [48]
Ellen Estes 2000 , 2004 0 1 1 2 [47]
Natalie Golda D 2004 , 2008 0 1 1 2 [44]
Ericka Lorenz A 2000 , 2004 0 1 1 2 [27]
Heather Moody C 2000 , 2004 0 1 1 2 [35]
Nicolle Payne GK 2000 , 2004 0 1 1 2 [40]

Two men have each led teams to at least three Olympic medals as head coaches of the United States women's national team.

Rk. Name Games as head coach Medals Ref.
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 Guy Baker 2000 , 2004 , 2008 0 2 1 3 [40][41]
2 Adam Krikorian 2012 , 2016 , 2020 3 0 0 3 [40]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Krikorian Named Women's Senior National Team Head Coach". United States Olympic Committee. March 27, 2009. Archived from the original on August 24, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  2. ^ "Krikorian Named Women's Senior National Team Head Coach". USA Water Polo. March 27, 2009. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d "HistoFINA – Water polo medalists and statistics" (PDF). fina.org. FINA. September 2019. pp. 56, 57, 67, 78, 83. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  4. ^ Round 1 in Group A and Round 2 in Group B
  5. ^ due to only two teams (Brazil and Canada) entered
  6. ^ "USA Women's National Team Announces Competition Roster For World Aquatics World Cup Division 1 Action". USA Water Polo. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  7. ^ "United States Water Polo at the 2000 Sydney Summer Games". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  8. ^ "United States Water Polo at the 2004 Athina Summer Games". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  9. ^ "United States Water Polo at the 2008 Beijing Summer Games". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  10. ^ "United States Water Polo at the 2012 London Summer Games". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  11. ^ "United States Water Polo at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Games". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  12. ^ "United States Water Polo at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games". Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  13. ^ "USA Water Polo Announces 2024 U.S. Olympic Women's Water Polo Team". USA Water Polo. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  14. ^ "2007 World Aquatics Championships – United States Women's Water Polo Team Roster" (PDF). Omega Timing. March 18, 2007. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  15. ^ "2009 World Aquatics Championships – United States Women's Water Polo Team Roster" (PDF). Omega Timing. July 19, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 8, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  16. ^ "2011 World Aquatics Championships – United States Women's Water Polo Team Roster" (PDF). Omega Timing. July 17, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 3, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  17. ^ "2013 World Aquatics Championships – United States Women's Water Polo Team Roster" (PDF). Omega Timing. July 27, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 14, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  18. ^ "2015 World Aquatics Championships – United States Women's Water Polo Team Roster" (PDF). Omega Timing. July 28, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 18, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  19. ^ "2017 World Aquatics Championships – United States Women's Water Polo Team Roster" (PDF). Omega Timing. July 15, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 11, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  20. ^ "2019 World Aquatics Championships – United States Women's Water Polo Team Roster" (PDF). Omega Timing. July 14, 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 9, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  21. ^ "2022 World Aquatics Championships – United States Women's Water Polo Team Roster" (PDF). Omega Timing. July 2, 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 2, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  22. ^ "2024 World Aquatics Championships – United States Women's Water Polo Team Roster" (PDF). Omega Timing. February 16, 2024. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 10, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  23. ^ "Aria Fischer". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  24. ^ a b c d "Maddie Musselman". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Maggie Steffens". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  26. ^ "Makenzie Fischer". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  27. ^ a b "Ericka Lorenz". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  28. ^ a b c "Kelly Rulon". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Brenda Villa". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  30. ^ "Annika Dries". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  31. ^ a b c d e f "Kami Craig". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  32. ^ a b "Jessica Steffens". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  33. ^ "Mo O'Toole". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  34. ^ a b c "Heather Petri". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  35. ^ a b "Heather Moody". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  36. ^ "Kathy Sheehy". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  37. ^ a b c d "Courtney Mathewson". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  38. ^ a b "Betsey Armstrong". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  39. ^ a b "Lauren Wenger". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  40. ^ a b c d e "Women's Senior National Team – History". USA Water Polo. November 28, 2018. Archived from the original on May 17, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  41. ^ a b "Guy Baker". USA Water Polo. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  42. ^ "Kiley Neushul". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  43. ^ "Coralie Simmons". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  44. ^ a b c "Natalie Golda". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  45. ^ "Brittany Hayes". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  46. ^ "Melissa Seidemann". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  47. ^ a b "Ellen Estes". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  48. ^ "Robin Beauregard". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
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