United States women's national water polo team

Summary

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.

United States
FINA codeUSA
AssociationUSA Water Polo
ConfederationUANA (Americas)
Head coachAdam Krikorian
Asst coachMolly Cahill
Christoph Oeding
FINA ranking (since 2008)
Current2 (as of August 9, 2021)
Highest1 (2009–2012, 2013–2019)
Lowest2 (2008, 2013, 2021)
Olympic Games (team statistics)
Appearances6 (first in 2000)
Best result1st place, gold medalist(s) (2012, 2016, 2020)
World Championship
Appearances17 (first in 1986)
Best result1st place, gold medalist(s) (2003, 2007, 2009, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2024)
World Cup
Appearances18 (first in 1979)
Best result1st place, gold medalist(s) (1979, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2023)
World League
Appearances18 (first in 2004)
Best result1st place, gold medalist(s) (2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
Pan American Games
Appearances6 (first in 1999)
Best result1st place, gold medalist(s) (2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023)
ASUA Cup (UANA Cup)
Best result1st place, gold medalist(s) (2013)
Media
Websiteusawaterpolo.org
Last updated: June 26, 2023

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 edit

Major tournaments edit

Competitive record edit

Updated after the 2024 World Aquatics Championships.

Tournament Appearances Finishes
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place Total
Olympic Games 6 3 2 1 0 6
World Championship 17 8 1 2 2 13
World Cup 18 5 5 1 3 14
World League 18 14 1 2 0 17
Pan American Games 7 6 1 0 0 7
Total 66 36 10 6 5 57

Olympic Games edit

  • 2000  Silver medal[3]: 56 
  • 2004  Bronze medal
  • 2008  Silver medal
  • 2012  Gold medal
  • 2016  Gold medal
  • 2020  Gold medal
  • 2024Qualified

World Championship edit

  • 1986  Bronze medal[3]: 57 
  • 1991  Bronze medal
  • 1994 – 4th place
  • 1998 – 8th place
  • 2001 – 4th place
  • 2003  Gold medal
  • 2005  Silver medal
  • 2007  Gold medal
  • 2009  Gold medal
  • 2011 – 6th place
  • 2013 – 5th place
  • 2015  Gold medal
  • 2017  Gold medal
  • 2019  Gold medal
  • 2022  Gold medal
  • 2023 – 5th place
  • 2024  Gold medal

World Cup edit

  • 1979  Gold medal[3]: 67 
  • 1980  Silver medal
  • 1981 – 4th place
  • 1983  Silver medal
  • 1984 –   Silver medal
  • 1988 – 4th place
  • 1989 –   Silver medal
  • 1991 –   Bronze medal
  • 1993 – 5th place
  • 1995 – 6th place
  • 1997 – 7th place
  • 1999 – 6th place
  • 2002  Silver medal
  • 2006 – 4th place
  • 2010  Gold medal
  • 2014  Gold medal
  • 2018  Gold medal
  • 2023  Gold medal

World League edit

  • 2004  Gold medal[3]: 78 
  • 2005 – 5th place
  • 2006  Gold medal
  • 2007  Gold medal
  • 2008  Silver medal
  • 2009  Gold medal
  • 2010  Gold medal
  • 2011  Gold medal
  • 2012  Gold medal
  • 2013  Bronze medal
  • 2014  Gold medal
  • 2015  Gold medal
  • 2016  Gold medal
  • 2017  Gold medal
  • 2018  Gold medal
  • 2019  Gold medal
  • 2020  Gold medal
  • 2022  Bronze medal

Pan American Games edit

  • 1999  Silver medal
  • 2003  Gold medal
  • 2007  Gold medal
  • 2011  Gold medal
  • 2015  Gold medal
  • 2019  Gold medal
  • 2023  Gold medal

Minor tournaments edit

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

Summer Universiade edit

  • 2011  Silver medal
  • 2013 – 8th place
  • 2015 – 5th place
  • 2017  Gold medal
  • 2019 – 8th place

ASUA Cup (UANA Cup) edit

  • 2013 –   Gold medal

Holiday Cup edit

  • 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

Kirishi Cup edit

  • 2014 –   Gold medal

World Games edit

  • 1981  Silver medal

Olympic Year Tournament edit

  • 1996 – 7th place

Team edit

Current squad edit

Roster for the 2024 World Aquatics Championships.[4]

Head coach: Adam Krikorian

Former squads edit

Olympic Games edit

World Aquatics Championships edit

  • 1986  Bronze medal
  • 1991  Bronze medal
  • 2003  Gold medal

Pan American Games edit

Other tournaments edit

  • 1979 FINA World Cup  Gold medal
    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 – 4th place
    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
  • 1981 World Games  Silver medal
    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

Statistics edit

Olympic Games edit

Abbreviations
Rk. Rank Pos. Playing position App. Appearances
Ref. References A Attacker C Center
D Defender GK Goalkeeper U Utility

Age records edit

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 [20]
2 Maddie Musselman A June 16, 1998 2016   18 years, 54 days [21]
3 Maggie Steffens A/D June 4, 1993 2012   19 years, 56 days [22]
4 Makenzie Fischer D March 29, 1997 2016   19 years, 133 days [23]
5 Ericka Lorenz A February 18, 1981 2000   19 years, 211 days [24]
6 Kelly Rulon A August 16, 1984 2004   20 years, 0 days [25]
7 Brenda Villa A April 18, 1980 2000   20 years, 151 days [26]
8 Annika Dries C February 10, 1992 2012   20 years, 171 days [27]
9 Kami Craig C July 21, 1987 2008   21 years, 21 days [28]
10 Jessica Steffens D April 7, 1987 2008   21 years, 126 days [29]
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 [30]
2 Heather Petri A June 13, 1978 2012   34 years, 57 days [31]
3 Brenda Villa A April 18, 1980 2012   32 years, 113 days [26]
4 Heather Moody C August 21, 1973 2004   31 years, 5 days [32]
5 Kathy Sheehy April 26, 1970 2000   30 years, 150 days [33]
6 Courtney Mathewson A September 14, 1986 2016   29 years, 340 days [34]
7 Betsey Armstrong GK January 31, 1983 2012   29 years, 191 days [35]
8 Kami Craig C July 21, 1987 2016   29 years, 29 days [28]
9 Lauren Wenger U March 11, 1984 2012   28 years, 151 days [36]
10 Kelly Rulon A August 16, 1984 2012   27 years, 359 days [25]

Most appearances edit

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 [31]
Brenda Villa A April 18, 1980 2000  , 2004  , 2008  , 2012   12 years 20 years, 151 days 32 years, 113 days [26]
3 Kami Craig C July 21, 1987 2008  , 2012  , 2016   8 years 21 years, 21 days 29 years, 29 days [28]

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 [37][38]
2 Adam Krikorian July 22, 1974 2012  , 2016   4 years 38 years, 8 days 42 years, 28 days [37]

Leading scorers edit

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 [22]
2 Brenda Villa A 2000 (9)  , 2004 (7)  , 2008 (9)  , 2012 (6)   31 23 1.347 [26]
3 Kami Craig C 2008 (6)  , 2012 (6)  , 2016 (5)   17 17 1.000 [28]
4 Courtney Mathewson A 2012 (7)  , 2016 (7)   14 12 1.166 [34]
5 Maddie Musselman A 2016 (12)   12 6 2.000 [21]
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 [22]
2 Maggie Steffens A 2016   17 6 2.833 [22]
3 Maddie Musselman A 2016   12 6 2.000 [21]
4 Kiley Neushul A 2016   10 6 1.666 [39]
5 Coralie Simmons 2000   9 7 1.285 [40]
Brenda Villa A 2000   9 7 1.285 [26]
Natalie Golda D 2008   9 5 2.250 [41]
Brenda Villa A 2008   9 5 2.250 [26]
9 Brittany Hayes A 2008   8 5 1.600 [42]
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   United States 14–13   Hungary 2012   [22]
2 Maggie Steffens D 5 August 9, 2012   United States 8–5   Spain 2012   [22]
3 Brenda Villa A 4 September 20, 2000   United States 9–6   Kazakhstan 2000   [26]
Brenda Villa A 4 August 16, 2004   United States 7–6   Hungary 2004   [26]
Natalie Golda D 4 August 11, 2008   United States 12–11   China 2008   [41]
Courtney Mathewson A 4 July 30, 2012   United States 14–13   Hungary 2012   [34]
Kami Craig C 4 August 1, 2012   United States 9–9   Spain 2012   [28]
Maggie Steffens D 4 August 7, 2012   United States 11–9   Australia 2012   [22]
Maddie Musselman A 4 August 11, 2016   United States 12–4   China 2016   [21]
Maggie Steffens A 4 August 11, 2016   United States 12–4   China 2016   [22]
Maggie Steffens A 4 August 13, 2016   United States 11–6   Hungary 2016   [22]
Maggie Steffens A 4 August 17, 2016   United States 14–10   Hungary 2016   [22]

Multiple medalists edit

 
Heather Petri
 
Brenda Villa

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 [31]
Brenda Villa A 2000  , 2004  , 2008  , 2012   1 2 1 4 [26]
3 Kami Craig C 2008  , 2012  , 2016   2 1 0 3 [28]
4 Courtney Mathewson A 2012  , 2016   2 0 0 2 [34]
Melissa Seidemann D 2012  , 2016   2 0 0 2 [43]
Maggie Steffens A/D 2012  , 2016   2 0 0 2 [22]
7 Betsey Armstrong GK 2008  , 2012   1 1 0 2 [35]
Jessica Steffens D 2008  , 2012   1 1 0 2 [29]
Lauren Wenger U 2008  , 2012   1 1 0 2 [36]
Elsie Windes D 2008  , 2012   1 1 0 2 [44]
11 Kelly Rulon A 2004  , 2012   1 0 1 2 [25]
12 Robin Beauregard C 2000  , 2004   0 1 1 2 [45]
Ellen Estes 2000  , 2004   0 1 1 2 [44]
Natalie Golda D 2004  , 2008   0 1 1 2 [41]
Ericka Lorenz A 2000  , 2004   0 1 1 2 [24]
Heather Moody C 2000  , 2004   0 1 1 2 [32]
Nicolle Payne GK 2000  , 2004   0 1 1 2 [37]

Two men have each won at least two Olympic medals as head coaches of the United States men'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 [37][38]
2 Adam Krikorian 2012  , 2016   2 0 0 2 [37]

Under-20 team edit

The United States women have won a record four titles at the FINA Junior Water Polo World Championships.[46]

See also edit

References edit

  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. ^ "21st World Aquatics World Championships Women's Water Polo Team Roster USA" (PDF). Omega Timing. February 5, 2024. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  5. ^ "United States Water Polo at the 2000 Sydney Summer Games". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  6. ^ "United States Water Polo at the 2004 Athina Summer Games". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  7. ^ "United States Water Polo at the 2008 Beijing Summer Games". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  8. ^ "United States Water Polo at the 2012 London Summer Games". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "United States Water Polo at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Games". Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  11. ^ "2007 World Aquatics Championships – United States Women's Water Polo Team Roster" (PDF). Omega Timing. March 18, 2007. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  12. ^ "2009 World Aquatics Championships – United States Women's Water Polo Team Roster" (PDF). Omega Timing. July 19, 2009. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  13. ^ "2011 World Aquatics Championships – United States Women's Water Polo Team Roster" (PDF). Omega Timing. July 17, 2011. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  14. ^ "2013 World Aquatics Championships – United States Women's Water Polo Team Roster" (PDF). Omega Timing. July 27, 2013. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  15. ^ "2015 World Aquatics Championships – United States Women's Water Polo Team Roster" (PDF). Omega Timing. July 28, 2015. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  16. ^ "2017 World Aquatics Championships – United States Women's Water Polo Team Roster" (PDF). Omega Timing. July 15, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  17. ^ "2019 World Aquatics Championships – United States Women's Water Polo Team Roster" (PDF). Omega Timing. July 14, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  18. ^ "2022 World Aquatics Championships – United States Women's Water Polo Team Roster" (PDF). Omega Timing. July 2, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  19. ^ "2024 World Aquatics Championships – United States Women's Water Polo Team Roster" (PDF). Omega Timing. February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  20. ^ "Aria Fischer". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  21. ^ a b c d "Maddie Musselman". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ "Makenzie Fischer". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  24. ^ a b "Ericka Lorenz". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  25. ^ a b c "Kelly Rulon". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  26. ^ 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.
  27. ^ "Annika Dries". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  28. ^ a b c d e f "Kami Craig". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  29. ^ a b "Jessica Steffens". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  30. ^ "Mo O'Toole". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  31. ^ a b c "Heather Petri". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  32. ^ a b "Heather Moody". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  33. ^ "Kathy Sheehy". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  34. ^ a b c d "Courtney Mathewson". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  35. ^ a b "Betsey Armstrong". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  36. ^ a b "Lauren Wenger". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  37. ^ 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.
  38. ^ a b "Guy Baker". USA Water Polo. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  39. ^ "Kiley Neushul". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  40. ^ "Coralie Simmons". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  41. ^ a b c "Natalie Golda". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  42. ^ "Brittany Hayes". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  43. ^ "Melissa Seidemann". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  44. ^ a b "Ellen Estes". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  45. ^ "Robin Beauregard". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  46. ^ Russia after fourth title at FINA World Women's Junior Water Polo Championship Owen Lloyd (Inside the Games), October 9, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2021.

External links edit

  • Official website