For the first time since 2011 – and the second time in program history – the No. 3 California women’s water polo team is headed to the NCAA Championship game.
The Golden Bears (19-6) came out on fire in Saturday’s NCAA semifinal against No. 2 Hawaii (23-4) and never looked back, holding at least a three-goal lead for the entirety of the second half. As has been the case since the first game of the season, Cal was powered by its defense, which held an opponent to a season-low in goals for the third time in the Bears’ last four games of this postseason.
Watch: UCLA vs California: Women’s Water Polo Championship from anywhere
Despite splitting the season series with the Rainbow Wahine, Cal had recent history on its side, having jumped out to an electric five-goal, first-quarter lead the last time the two teams faced off at Spieker Aquatics Complex on Mar. 10. This time around, the Bears went ahead by five goals just before halftime, thanks to a six-goal outburst over just over six minutes.
How to watch UCLA vs California Women’s water polo championship?
USA Water Polo, in collaboration with the NCAA and ESPN, is excited to once again present LIVE coverage of the NCAA Women’s Water Polo Championship final in 2024. The biggest prize in college water polo will be decided at the Spieker Aquatics Complex on campus at the University of California, Berkeley in Berkeley, CA live on ESPNU and ESPN+ on Sunday, May 12 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
Water polo fans worldwide have a fantastic alternative to watch on PremiumTV. All matches will be streamed live in the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand on PremiumTV. PremiumTV allows fans to watch the matches live from anywhere in the world.
The top-seeded and undefeated Bruins advanced to Sunday’s NCAA championship with a 10-8 semifinal victory over two-time defending champion Stanford on Saturday at Spieker Aquatics Complex at Berkeley.
UCLA, which never trailed against Stanford, will face third-seeded Cal, a 9-6 winner over No. 2 seed Hawai’i, for the title.
The Bruins defeated the Golden Bears (18-6) twice this season – 7-6 on April 13 at Berkeley and 13-10 for the MPSF championship April 28 in Bloomington, Ind.
Freshman Panni Szegedi led UCLA (25-0) with three goals against the fourth-seeded Cardinal (19-7). Fellow freshman Lauren Steele stopped 12 shots and recorded three steals.
The game was tied at 4 at halftime before the Bruins pounced for four goals – two by sophomore Genoa Rossi – in the third quarter. Junior Molly Renner’s goal a little more than a minute into the third gave the Bruins a 5-4 lead they would not relinquish.