USA Defends FINA Gold, Musselman Earns MVP
July 28, 2017 | Women's Water Polo
BUDAPEST, Hungary โ The USA Water Polo Women's Senior National Team successfully defended its title at the FINA World Championships Friday, defeating Spain in the gold-medal game, 13-6. The win capped an unbeaten run through the schedule for the Americans, who were led by tournament MVP Maddie Musselman. The UCLA sophomore-to-be scored a team-high 16 goals over six contests. Recently-graduated Bruins Rachel Fattal and Alys Williams also factored in prominently for the Adam Krikorian-led Team USA.
Friday's FINA finale at the Alfred Hajos Pool began as a back-and-forth affair, as the teams alternated the game's first seven goals. With Team USA holding a 4-3 lead, Musselman converted on a power-play opportunity to establish the first multi-goal advantage of the evening. The Americans would take its 5-3 lead into the second half, where Spain quickly cut its deficit in half. Fattal struck right back on a power play, however, to spark a run of four straight goals for Team USA to extend its lead to five. Spain would not get closer than four goals the rest of the way, as Musselman scored twice more, including the Americans' final goal of the game.
The hat trick was the fourth of the trip for the Newport Beach, Calif. native, and second of elimination play. Wednesday, Musselman, Fattal and Williams combined for 10 goals to outscore the Russian opposition in Team USA's 14-9 semifinal win. Fattal led the way with five. She found the back of the net 14 times during the Championships, trailing only her former UCLA teammate for the team lead. The Seal Beach, Calif. native was named to the All-Media Team for her efforts. The Americans' closest call of the tournament came two days earlier, as late goals by Musselman and Fattal proved to be the difference in holding off Bruin Bronte Halligan's Australian group in the quarterfinals, 7-5.
Resounding wins over South Africa (24-2) and New Zealand (22-7) were sandwiched around Team USA's first date with Spain, a group-play showdown that ended with a 12-8 American win. Musselman (three), Fattal (two) and Williams combined for six goals in the win. Williams scored three goals during the group stage and finished with four on the trip.
The FINA World Championships win marked the latest highlight in a busy summer for Team USA. Musselman and Williams were part of the roster that needed a shootout to overcome Greece and claim the Kunshan Cup in China by a score of 11-8 (June 3). Just over a week and six games later and with Fattal added to the mix, the Americans claimed their fourth straight gold at the FINA World League Super Final with a 12-6 win over Canada in Shanghai. For good measure, USA began July by taking the Vodafone Cup with a 10-8 win over host Hungary in Miskolc.
