USA Wins FINA World League Super Final
June 13, 2016 | Women's Water Polo
The USA Women's Water Polo Senior National Team won its third consecutive gold medal at the FINA World League Super Final. The U.S. defeated Spain in the championship match, 13-9, on Sunday in Beijing, China to capture its 10th overall WLSF title. UCLA alumna Courtney Mathewson (2005-08) was named Tournament MVP.
Mathewson, along with incoming freshman Maddie Musselman, scored two goals in the final, while redshirt senior Rachel Fattal and alumna KK Clark (2009-12) had one each. Team USA is coached by UCLA alumnus and former Bruin head coach Adam Krikorian. Other Bruins on the championship squad are Sami Hill (2011-15) and redshirt senior Alys Williams.
The U.S. began the tournament with a 20-2 win over Brazil, leading 15-0 at one point in the third quarter. Musselman had six goals, Clark recorded four and Fattal tallied two. Hill started in goal and made 12 saves to lead the U.S. to an 11-8 win over Canada in game two. Musselman and Mathewson each recorded two goals, and Williams scored one. A 12-10 victory over Spain put the U.S. into the quarterfinals. Clark scored two goals, Musselman and Fattal scored one each, and Hill split time in goal and tallied two saves. Mathewson accounted for two goals, and Fattal and Clark scored one each in the 14-7 quarterfinal victory over Russia, and Fattal and Williams' two goals each keyed the U.S. to victory in the semifinals, 11-5 over China.
Next up for Team USA will be the naming of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Women's Water Polo Team this Thursday at the LA84 Foundation in Los Angeles, CA.
UCLA will play host to the U.S. Olympic team at Spieker Aquatics Center on July 24 as they take on Russia in a pre-Olympic matchup. Tickets will go on sale at a later date.
