{"id":617027,"date":"2025-07-19T06:58:12","date_gmt":"2025-07-19T13:58:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=617027"},"modified":"2025-07-19T06:58:12","modified_gmt":"2025-07-19T13:58:12","slug":"the-best-american-womens-water-polo-players-of-the-ncaa-era-part-i-no-21-to-no-25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/the-best-american-womens-water-polo-players-of-the-ncaa-era-part-i-no-21-to-no-25\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best American Women\u2019s Water Polo Players of the NCAA Era (Part I: No. 21 to No. 25)"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Best American Women\u2019s Water Polo Players of the NCAA Era (Part I: No. 21 to No. 25)<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Jeff Moulton – Guest Editorial<\/p>\n

The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation recognized women\u2019s water polo as a varsity sport during the 1995-96 school year.\u00a0 From 1995 through 2000, some college coaches organized an unofficial national collegiate championship tournament (\u201ctournament\u201d).\u00a0 Eight schools (a combination of varsity and club teams) participated in the 1995 and 1996 tournaments.\u00a0 In 1997, the tournament was expanded to 16 schools.\u00a0 At about this time, all of the schools participating in the tournament had varsity teams.\u00a0 Slippery Rock University won the tournament in 1995; USC won in 1999; and UCLA won in 1996, 1997, 1998, and 2000.<\/p>\n

The NCAA recognized women\u2019s water polo as an official varsity sport during the 2000-01 school year.\u00a0 The first NCAA tournament was held in 2001.\u00a0 Only three schools have won an NCAA women\u2019s Division 1 water polo championship:\u00a0 Stanford (2002, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2025); UCLA (2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2024); and USC (2004, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2021).<\/p>\n

Earlier this year, Swimming World<\/em> magazine published my three-part article entitled \u201cThe Top 25 American Men\u2019s Water Polo Players of the NCAA Era<\/a>.\u201d In this three-part article, I will discuss the top 25 American women\u2019s water polo players of the NCAA era.\u00a0 To be eligible for this list, an individual must have played at least one year of college water polo from 2001 to the present.\u00a0 This requirement eliminates many great players from consideration, including Maureen O\u2019Toole Purcell, considered by many to be the greatest women\u2019s water polo player of her generation; Lynn Wittstock; and Heather Moody.<\/p>\n

My list of the top 25 American women\u2019s water polo players of the NCAA era is subjective.\u00a0 As one member of the Hall of Fame told me when I was writing my article about the top American men\u2019s players:\u00a0 \u201cRanking players 1 through 25 is no easy task, especially when accounting for different eras and positions.\u00a0 The evolution of the game and generational bias can make direct comparisons challenging.\u201d\u00a0 I hope readers take my list in the spirit in which it is intended–to recognize some of America\u2019s greatest water polo players.<\/p>\n

How I Made the Selections<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"water

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick<\/p><\/div>\n

First, I considered how an individual\u2019s teams performed.\u00a0 Water polo is a team sport and winning championships should be the ultimate goal.\u00a0 Eighteen of the individuals on my list won at least one NCAA championship; nine won two or more NCAA championships.\u00a0 Eighteen won at least one Olympic gold medal.\u00a0 Twenty-three won at least one World Aquatics (FINA) World Championship.<\/p>\n

Second, I considered whether (and at what level) an individual received All-American honors from the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) and whether an individual won the ACWPC\u2019s Player-of-the-Year Award or the Cutino Award.\u00a0 Every individual on my list was an ACWPC All-American at least twice; 23 were first-team All-Americans at least once.\u00a0 Seventeen won the Player-of-the-Year Award or the Cutino Award at least once.<\/p>\n

Third, I considered how an individual performed for the United States in international competition, including the Olympics and World Championships.\u00a0 Every individual on my list was a member of at least one Olympic team and one World Championships team.\u00a0 Twenty were members of at least two Olympic teams.<\/p>\n

Fourth, where applicable, I considered how an individual performed in her professional career.<\/p>\n

Fifth, I considered the extent to which opposing teams had to account for an individual in their game plans.<\/p>\n

Sixth, I spoke with and considered the opinions of many players, coaches, and other knowledgeable observers, including members of the Water Polo Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n

Here are some observations about the 25 individuals on my list:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Twenty-three played high school water polo in California.<\/li>\n
  • Three graduated from Laguna Beach High School, two graduated from Monte Vista High School, two graduated from Los Alamitos High School, and two graduated from the University of San Diego High School. No other high school has more than one individual on the list.<\/li>\n
  • Ten played for Stanford, seven played for UCLA, four played for USC, two played for Cal, one played for Princeton, and one played for Michigan.<\/li>\n
  • John Tanner coached 10 individuals on the list while they were in college, Adam Krikorian coached five, and Jovan Vavic coached four.<\/li>\n
  • My top 25 list is comprised of four goalies, five centers, three center defenders, four utility players (individuals who received significant playing time at more than one field position), and nine right-handed attackers. There are no left-handed players on my list (five of the players on my top 25 men\u2019s list are left-handed).<\/li>\n
  • Two played on Stanford\u2019s 2002 national championship team, two played on Stanford\u2019s 2011 national championship team, three played on Stanford\u2019s 2014 national championship team, two played on Stanford\u2019s 2015 national championship team, three played on Stanford\u2019s 2017 national championship team, two played on Stanford\u2019s 2019 national championship team, two played on Stanford\u2019s 2022 national championship team, three played on UCLA\u2019s 2001 national championship team, three played on UCLA\u2019s 2003 national championship team, three played on UCLA\u2019s undefeated 2005 national championship team, two played on UCLA\u2019s 2006 national championship team, two played on UCLA\u2019s 2007 national championship team, and two played on USC\u2019s undefeated 2004 national championship team.<\/li>\n
  • Seventeen have been inducted into the Water Polo Hall of Fame. Two individuals who recently retired from the senior national team are likely to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the next several years, and four are likely to be inducted when their playing careers are over.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    With that background information, and with all due respect to the other individuals who deserve to be considered, my unofficial list of the top 25 American women\u2019s water polo players of the NCAA era follows below.\u00a0 In Part I of this Article, I will discuss the individuals I have ranked Nos. 21 to 25.\u00a0 In Part II, I will discuss the individuals I have ranked Nos. 11 to 20.\u00a0 In Part III, I will discuss the individuals I have ranked Nos. 1 to 10.<\/p>\n

    25. Amanda Longan<\/strong> \u2013 goalie, Oaks Christian High School and USC (2x NCAA champion, 4x All-American, 3x 1st team All-American, 1x Cutino Award winner, 1x ACWPC player of the year, 2x Olympian, 1x gold medalist, 4x FINA world champion).<\/p>\n

    Former USC coach Jovan Vavic, speaking with a reporter at the 2018 Cutino Award ceremonies:\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s always great for a hardworking and committed athlete to be awarded like this.\u00a0 Amanda is a special (person) who has worked so hard from the beginning since she joined us.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think you know this but when she was a freshman she didn\u2019t make the junior national team\u2014she was the third goalie selected for junior worlds.\u00a0 She was bummed about that, but one of the substitute goalies got injured and they called her back.\u00a0 She goes to junior worlds and she becomes MVP as the U.S. wins a gold medal.\u00a0 That gives you an idea what kind of a player Amanda is.\u00a0 She never quits.\u201d\u00a0 When evaluating individuals who are still playing water polo for the United States senior national team, I considered whether I would select the individual if she didn\u2019t play another game.\u00a0 In Longan\u2019s case, the answer is yes.\u00a0 If Longan continues playing, she is likely to play for the United States in the 2028 Olympics and could move up higher on my list.<\/p>\n

    24. Jessica Steffens<\/strong> \u2013 center defender, Monte Vista High School and Stanford (2x All-American, 2x 1st<\/sup> team All-American, 2x Olympian, 1x gold medalist, 1x silver medalist, 1x FINA world champion, Hall of Fame).<\/p>\n

    I asked Susan Ortwein, Stanford\u2019s longtime associate head coach, about Steffens.\u00a0 She said:\u00a0 \u201cJessica is someone who took pride in playing 2M defense and being able to shut down the opponent.\u00a0 She enjoyed the duel with the center and made it extremely hard for them to get position or take a quality shot.\u00a0 Jess has the leg strength and length that most defenders dream of.\u00a0 Her ability to stay poised in high-stress situations is a strength and life skill that she carries with her today.\u201d\u00a0 Guy Baker, Steffens\u2019 coach on the 2008 Olympic team, told me:\u00a0 \u201cFrom the start to the end of fulltime training (for the 2008 Olympics), Jessica had the fastest and steepest improvement curve during my time as the Head Coach.\u00a0 Jessica\u2019s excellence led her to being one of the top center defenders at the 2008 Olympic Games.\u201d\u00a0 Stanford coach John Tanner speaking with a reporter in April 2019 after learning he would be inducted into the Hall of Fame:\u00a0 \u201cThe coolest part is that Jessica Steffens is in the same class.\u00a0 Because they go in alphabetical order, I\u2019ll follow her into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame.\u00a0 That\u2019s sensational because Jessica has had the biggest heart of just about anyone who has ever played in this pool.\u00a0 She put her body on the line to make blocks.\u00a0 She\u2019s the hockey player who dives in front of the puck.\u00a0 When things were at their worst, she was always at her best.\u00a0 It\u2019s a huge honor to be inducted with her.\u201d<\/p>\n

    23. Ericka Lorenz<\/strong> \u2013 attacker, Patrick Henry High School and two years at Cal (2x All-American, 1x 1st team All-American, 2x Olympian, 1x silver medalist, 1x bronze medalist, 2x FINA world champion, Hall of Fame).<\/p>\n

    \"ErickaLorenz played professionally in Italy.\u00a0 Natalie Golda Benson, Lorenz\u2019s teammate on the 2004 Olympic team, speaking with USA Water Polo after \u00a0Lorenz was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021:\u00a0 \u201cEricka was freakishly athletic.\u00a0 She could do things that other people couldn\u2019t do.\u201d\u00a0 Cal coach Coralie Simmons, Lorenz\u2019s teammate on the 2000 Olympic team, speaking with Cal Athletics after Lorenz was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021:\u00a0 “Ericka was an anomaly in terms of just being so explosive and powerful and having talent that the game maybe hadn’t seen yet.\u00a0 Whether it be her speed, her strength or her offensive capabilities, she was above and beyond where the game was at that point.\u00a0 She was one of the best shooters in the world and really fun to play with.\u201d\u00a0 I asked Guy Baker, Lorenz\u2019s coach on the 2000 and 2004 Olympic teams, about Lorenz.\u00a0 He said:\u00a0 \u201cTo echo what Coralie said, I don\u2019t know if it is on YouTube but if you can find the 2003 World Championship gold medal game, Ericka scores the most beautiful and powerful 6×5 goal.\u00a0 I can still see (it) to this day.\u00a0 Ericka\u2019s attacking abilities had a significant impact on our approach to and methods for player development and team tactics.\u201d<\/p>\n

    22. Moriah Van Norman<\/strong> \u2013 center, University of San Diego High School and USC (1x NCAA champion, 4x All-American, 3x 1st team All-American, 1x Cutino Award winner, 1x ACWPC player of the year, 1x Olympian, 1x silver medalist, 2x FINA world champion).<\/p>\n

    Van Norman scored 215 goals during her four years at USC.\u00a0 I asked Doug Peabody, Van Norman\u2019s coach at the San Diego Shores Water Polo Club, about Van Norman.\u00a0 He compared her physical style of play to Melissa Seidemann\u2019s and said:\u00a0 \u201cMariah came from a swimming family.\u00a0 She didn\u2019t start playing water polo until her freshman year in high school.\u00a0 She was an unstoppable force.\u00a0 She had the talent to play in three Olympics.\u201d\u00a0 Guy Baker, Van Norman\u2019s coach on the 2008 Olympic team, told me that \u201cMoriah was one of the top centers in the world in 2007 and 2008, especially 2007.\u00a0 She was unstoppable.\u201d\u00a0 More from Baker:\u00a0 \u201cMoriah was one of the key leaders throughout the 2008 quadrennial.\u00a0 Her spirit, toughness, and play were exceptional and led a very inexperienced Team USA through the quadrennial, including an undefeated 2007 campaign and a silver medal at the 2008 Olympic Games.\u201d\u00a0 Van Norman should be in the Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n

    21. Heather Petri<\/strong> \u2013 attacker, Miramonte High School and Cal (2x All-American, 4x Olympian, 1x gold medalist, 2x silver medalist, 1x bronze medalist, 3x FINA world champion, Hall of Fame).<\/p>\n

    \"heather-petri-ishof\"Petri and Brenda Villa are the only women to win four water polo Olympic medals.\u00a0 Petri played professionally in Brazil, Italy, and Greece, winning two LEN Champions League titles with Vouliagmeni Nautical Club in Greece.\u00a0 Villa, Petri\u2019s teammate on four Olympic teams, speaking with USA Water Polo after Petri was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018:\u00a0 \u201cHeather brings so much to the pool.\u00a0 She does all the little things that are needed (for a team to be successful).\u201d\u00a0 I asked Guy Baker, Petri\u2019s coach on the 2000, 2004, and 2008 Olympic teams, about Petri\u2019s contributions to the senior national team.\u00a0 He said:\u00a0 \u201cHeather was instrumental in changing the 2000 National Team\u2019s internal dynamics and chemistry when joining the team in January 2000.\u00a0 In a short four months Heather played a significant role on the 2000 team\u2019s success in qualifying for the 2000 Olympic Games.\u00a0 Her defense, positivity, and determination were critical.\u00a0 Heather is a team player, cared very deeply for her teammates. and was the positive light for four Olympic teams.\u201d<\/p>\n

    In Part II of this Article, I will discuss the individuals I have ranked Nos. 11 to 20 in my unofficial list of the Top 25 American women\u2019s water polo players of the NCAA era.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    The Best American Women\u2019s Water Polo Players of the NCAA Era (Part I: No. 21 to No. 25) By Jeff Moulton – Guest Editorial The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation recognized<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67367,"featured_media":362248,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"dois","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,6,12],"tags":[136464,6391,54416],"class_list":["post-617027","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-college","category-water-polo","tag-best-womens-ncaa-players","tag-heather-petri","tag-water-polo"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\r\nBest American Women\u2019s Water Polo 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