United States women's national water polo team explained

Gender:women
United States
Fina Code:USA
Association:USA Water Polo
Confederation:ASUA
Coach:Adam Krikorian
Asst Coach:Molly Cahill
Christoph Oeding
Captain:Maggie Steffens
Fina Ranking:2
Fina Ranking Date:August 9, 2021
Fina Highest:1
Fina Highest Year:2009–2012, 2013–2019
Fina Lowest:2
Fina Lowest Year:2008, 2013, 2021
Olympics Apps:7
Olympics First:2000
Olympics Best: (2012, 2016, 2020)
World Champ Apps:17
World Champ First:1986
World Champ Best: (2003, 2007, 2009, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2024)
World Cup Apps:18
World Cup First:1979
World Cup Best: (1979, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2023)
World League Apps:18
World League First:2004
World League Best: (2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
Regional Cup Name:Pan American Games
Regional Cup Apps:7
Regional Cup First:1999
Regional Cup Best: (2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023)
2Ndregional Cup Name:ASUA Cup (UANA Cup)
2Ndregional Cup Best: (2013)
Medaltemplates-Expand:yes
Last Updated:June 26, 2023

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 2024 Summer Olympics.

Tournament Appearances Finishes
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place Total
7 3 2 1 1 7
17 8 1 2 2 13
18 5 5 1 3 14
18 14 1 2 0 17
7 6 1 0 0 7
Total 67 36 10 6 6 58

Olympic Games

See main article: United States women's Olympic water polo team records and statistics.

YearResult
2000 Silver medal7421
2004 Bronze medal5320
2008 Silver medal5311
2012 Gold medal6501
2016 Gold medal6600
2020 Gold medal7610
20244th place7430
Total3 Titles433193

World Championship

YearResult
1986 Bronze medal8422
1991 Bronze medal6321
19944th place7421
19988th place7241
20014th place8521
2003 Gold medal6600
2005 Silver medal7421
2007 Gold medal6600
2009 Gold medal7610
20116th place6321
20135th place7610
2015 Gold medal7610
2017 Gold medal6600
2019 Gold medal6600
2022 Gold medal6600
20235th place6510
2024 Gold medal6600
Total8 Titles11284208

World Cup

YearResult
1979 Gold medal4301
1980 Silver medal4211
19814th placecolspan=4
1983 Silver medal6321
1984 Silver medalrowspan=7 colspan=4
19884th place
1989 Silver medal
1991 Bronze medal
19935th place
19956th place
19977th place
19996th place5221
2002 Silver medal5311
20064th place5320
2010 Gold medal6510
2014 Gold medal6600
2018 Gold medal6600
2023 Gold medal9720
Total5 Titles5640115

World League

YearResult
2004 Gold medal5410
20055th place141040
2006 Gold medal121020
2007 Gold medal7700
2008 Silver medal6510
2009 Gold medal5500
2010 Gold medal3300
2011 Gold medal3300
2012 Gold medal101000
2013 Bronze medal3210
2014 Gold medal121110
2015 Gold medal121200
2016 Gold medal111100
2017 Gold medal121110
2018 Gold medal111010
2019 Gold medal121200
2020 Gold medal6600
2022 Bronze medal11830
Total14 Titles155140150

Pan American Games

YearResult
1999 Silver medal6330
2003 Gold medal6501
2007 Gold medal7700
2011 Gold medal5500
2015 Gold medal5500
2019 Gold medal6600
2023 Gold medal6600
Total6 Titles413731

Minor tournaments

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

Summer Universiade

YearPosition
2011 Silver medal
20138th place
20155th place
2017 Gold medal
20198th place
Total1 Title

Holiday Cup

YearPosition
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
Total6 Titles

Olympic Year Tournament

Team

Current squad

Roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Former squads

Olympic Games

World Aquatics Championships

World Cup

World League

Pan American Games

Other tournaments

Statistics

Olympic Games

See main article: United States women's Olympic water polo team records and statistics.

Abbreviations
Rk.RankPos.Playing positionApp.Appearances
Ref.ReferencesAAttackerCCenter
DDefenderGKGoalkeeperUUtility

Age records

Top 10 youngest Olympians (Olympic medalists)
Rk. Player Pos. Birthdate Game Age of first app. Ref.
1C March 2, 1999 2016
2A June 16, 1998 2016
3A/D June 4, 1993 2012
4D March 29, 1997 2016
5A February 18, 1981 2000
6A August 16, 1984 2004
7A April 18, 1980 2000
8C February 10, 1992 2012
9C July 21, 1987 2008
10D April 7, 1987 2008
Top 10 oldest Olympians (Olympic medalists)
Rk. Player Pos. Birthdate Game Age of last app. Ref.
1March 24, 1961 2000
2A June 13, 1978 2012
3A April 18, 1980 2012
4C August 21, 1973 2004
5April 26, 1970 2000
6A September 14, 1986 2016
7GK January 31, 1983 2012
8C July 21, 1987 2016
9U March 11, 1984 2012
10A August 16, 1984 2012

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.
4A June 13, 1978 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 12 years
A April 18, 1980 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 12 years
3C July 21, 1987 2008, 2012, 2016 8 years

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.
32000, 2004, 2008 8 years
2July 22, 1974 2012, 2016 4 years

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.
1A/D 2012 (21), 2016 (17) 38 12 3.166
2A 2000 (9), 2004 (7), 2008 (9), 2012 (6) 31 23 1.347
3C 2008 (6), 2012 (6), 2016 (5) 17 17 1.000
4A 2012 (7), 2016 (7) 14 12 1.166
5A 2016 (12) 12 6 2.000
Players with at least 8 goals in an Olympic tournament
Rk. Player Pos. Game Goals Matches
played
Goals
per
match
Ref.
1D 2012 21 6 3.500
2A 2016 17 6 2.833
3A 2016 12 6 2.000
4A 2016 10 6 1.666
52000 9 7 1.285
A 2000 9 7 1.285
D 2008 9 5 2.250
A 2008 9 5 2.250
9A 2008 8 5 1.600
Players with at least 4 goals in an Olympic match
Rk. Player Pos. Goals Date Match Game Ref.
1D 7 July 30, 2012 14–13 2012
2D 5 August 9, 2012 8–5 2012
3A 4 September 20, 2000 9–6 2000
A 4 August 16, 2004 7–6 2004
D 4 August 11, 2008 12–11 2008
A 4 July 30, 2012 14–13 2012
C 4 August 1, 2012 9–9 2012
D 4 August 7, 2012 11–9 2012
A 4 August 11, 2016 12–4 2016
A 4 August 11, 2016 12–4 2016
A 4 August 13, 2016 11–6 2016
A 4 August 17, 2016 14–10 2016

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
1A 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 1 2 1 4
A 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 1 2 1 4
3C 2008, 2012, 2016 2 1 0 3
4A 2012, 2016 2 0 0 2
D 2012, 2016 2 0 0 2
A/D 2012, 2016 2 0 0 2
7GK 2008, 2012 1 1 0 2
D 2008, 2012 1 1 0 2
U 2008, 2012 1 1 0 2
D 2008, 2012 1 1 0 2
11A 2004, 2012 1 0 1 2
12C 2000, 2004 0 1 1 2
2000, 2004 0 1 1 2
D 2004, 2008 0 1 1 2
A 2000, 2004 0 1 1 2
C 2000, 2004 0 1 1 2
GK 2000, 2004 0 1 1 2

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
12000, 2004, 2008 0 2 1 3
22012, 2016, 2020 3 0 0 3

Under-20 team

The United States women have won a record four titles at the FINA Junior Water Polo World Championships.[18]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Krikorian Named Women's Senior National Team Head Coach . https://web.archive.org/web/20190824065432/https://www.teamusa.org/News/2009/March/27/Krikorian-Named-Women-s-Senior-National-Team-Head-Coach . dead . August 24, 2019 . . March 27, 2009 . August 22, 2019 .
  2. Web site: Krikorian Named Women's Senior National Team Head Coach . . March 27, 2009 . August 22, 2019 .
  3. Web site: United States Water Polo at the 2000 Sydney Summer Games . https://web.archive.org/web/20200417082330/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/USA/summer/2000/WAP/ . dead . April 17, 2020 . Sports Reference . July 24, 2019.
  4. Web site: United States Water Polo at the 2004 Athina Summer Games . https://web.archive.org/web/20200417082304/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/USA/summer/2004/WAP/ . dead . April 17, 2020 . Sports Reference . July 24, 2019 .
  5. Web site: United States Water Polo at the 2008 Beijing Summer Games . https://web.archive.org/web/20200417082216/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/USA/summer/2008/WAP/ . dead . April 17, 2020 . Sports Reference . July 24, 2019 .
  6. Web site: United States Water Polo at the 2012 London Summer Games . https://web.archive.org/web/20200417082238/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/USA/summer/2012/WAP/ . dead . April 17, 2020 . Sports Reference . July 24, 2019 .
  7. Web site: United States Water Polo at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Games . https://web.archive.org/web/20200417082059/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/USA/summer/2016/WAP/ . dead . April 17, 2020 . Sports Reference . August 3, 2019 .
  8. Web site: United States Water Polo at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Games . August 7, 2021 .
  9. Web site: 2007 World Aquatics Championships – United States Women's Water Polo Team Roster . Omega Timing . March 18, 2007 . PDF . August 3, 2019 .
  10. Web site: 2009 World Aquatics Championships – United States Women's Water Polo Team Roster . Omega Timing . July 19, 2009 . PDF . August 3, 2019 .
  11. Web site: 2011 World Aquatics Championships – United States Women's Water Polo Team Roster . Omega Timing . July 17, 2011 . PDF . August 3, 2019 .
  12. Web site: 2013 World Aquatics Championships – United States Women's Water Polo Team Roster . Omega Timing . July 27, 2013 . PDF . August 3, 2019 .
  13. Web site: 2015 World Aquatics Championships – United States Women's Water Polo Team Roster . Omega Timing . July 28, 2015 . PDF . August 3, 2019 .
  14. Web site: 2017 World Aquatics Championships – United States Women's Water Polo Team Roster . Omega Timing . July 15, 2017 . PDF . August 3, 2019 .
  15. Web site: 2019 World Aquatics Championships – United States Women's Water Polo Team Roster . Omega Timing . July 14, 2019 . PDF . August 3, 2019 . December 9, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201209022140/https://waterpolo.sportresult.com/pdf/WCH2019/WUSA-R.pdf . dead .
  16. Web site: 2022 World Aquatics Championships – United States Women's Water Polo Team Roster . Omega Timing . July 2, 2022 . PDF . July 2, 2022 .
  17. Web site: 2024 World Aquatics Championships – United States Women's Water Polo Team Roster . Omega Timing . Feb 16, 2024 . PDF . Feb 16, 2024 .
  18. https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1113997/2021-fina-world-womens-junior-water-polo Russia after fourth title at FINA World Women's Junior Water Polo Championship