Team Vying for 4th Gold Medal
Team USA women’s water polo is going for its fourth-straight Olympic gold medal in Paris.
NCAA Team Ties
All athletes on the team have strong ties to NCAA programs. These collegiate experiences play a significant role in developing their skills and preparing them for international competition. They are also among 14 sports for the U.S. to boast a roster composed entirely of athletes with NCAA connections, reinforcing how the college model serves as vital training grounds for Olympic athletes. The 13-person roster represents five schools from four conferences.
NCAA water polo programs, especially from schools like Stanford, University of Southern California (USC) and University of California Los Angeles (ULCA) are known for producing top-tier talent that feeds into the national team. This connection between NCAA programs and the national team highlights the importance of collegiate athletics in fostering elite athletes and providing them with the training and competitive environments necessary for success on the world stage.
Team History
Women’s water polo was added as an Olympic sport in 2000 and an NCAA sport in 2001, creating a strong pipeline from college competition to Olympic dominance. “I feel like without Stanford, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” said Maggie Steffens, a Stanford graduate and 2024 Team USA captain. “It’s been a huge part of my journey. Especially for women’s water polo … collegiate sports are huge,” she added. “The opportunity it gives you to continue playing and to gain the experience … you need to keep learning to keep growing,” Steffens said.
Meet the Team
- Emily Ausmus (Southern California commit).
- Rachel Fattal (UCLA).
- Jenna Flynn (Stanford).
- Kaleigh Gilchrist (Southern California).
- Ashleigh Johnson (Princeton).
- Amanda Longan (Southern California).
- Maddie Musselman (UCLA).
- Ryann Neushul (Stanford).
- Tara Prentice (UC Irvine).
- Jordan Raney (Stanford).
- Jewel Roemer (Stanford).
- Jovana Sekulic (Princeton).
- Maggie Steffens (Stanford).
NCAA Connections
Team USA water polo players have had enormous success at the NCAA level, with seven team members combining for a total of 14 NCAA national titles.
Stanford leads the way in terms of national titles and roster representation, with five current or former team members. University of Southern California follows with two former players and one incoming athlete, while UCLA and Princeton are both represented by two athletes.
Prentice is the sole representative from the University of California Irvine. An All-American and the 2022 Big West champion, she is the school’s first women’s water polo Olympian.
The roster features two Peter J. Cutino Award winners: Johnson of Princeton and Longan of Southern California. The Cutino Award is presented annually and recognizes the top player in both men’s and women’s college water polo. Johnson received the award in 2017, while Longan won in 2018.
Olympic Experience
The U.S. is the only nation to have medaled in every Olympic Games featuring water polo, winning gold three times (2012, 2016, 2020), silver twice (2000 and 2008), and bronze once (2004).
The 2024 roster for the three-time defending Olympic champion and current world champion team features six returners from the Tokyo Olympic Games, five of whom also competed in Rio.
Longan will return for her second Olympics, while Johnson, Fattal, Gilchrist, and Tokyo MVP Musselman will compete in their third Games.
Steffens, considered the best water polo player on the planet, will make her fourth Olympic appearance as the only athlete from the 2012 team on this year’s roster. She is returning for her fourth consecutive attempt at gold.
Ausmus, Flynn, Neushul, Prentice, Raney, Roemer, and Sekulic all will make their Olympic debuts.
Tune-In
Follow along as Team USA looks to win its fourth straight gold medal in women’s water polo. The full schedule is provided below. View the broadcast schedule for water polo here.
- Saturday, July 27 — Greece vs. United States.
- Monday, July 29 — United States vs. Spain.
- Wednesday, July 31 — Italy vs. United States.
- Friday, Aug. 2 — United States vs. France.
- Tuesday, Aug. 6 — Women’s quarterfinal.
- Thursday, Aug. 8 — Women’s classification fifth-eighth and women’s semifinal.
- Saturday, Aug. 10 — Women’s classification seventh-eighth, women’s bronze medal match, women’s gold medal match.
