Courtesy: USA Water Polo
Irvine, CA – May 24, 2021 – The best in women’s water polo is coming to the worldwide leader in sports! Reigning Olympic champions, the USA Water Polo Women’s National Team, welcomes Hungary for a three-game series LIVE on ESPNU and streaming on the ESPN app starting tomorrow. Winners of the last two Olympic crowns (2012, 2016) and last three FINA World Championships (2015, 2017, 2019), top-ranked Team USA hosts fourth-ranked Hungary across three matches in Southern California.
The series serves as key preparation for both squads leading into the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games and a final evaluation for the USA Women’s National Team before their Olympic Team nominations are announced on June 3. Anchored by Olympic gold medalists Maggie Steffens, Melissa Seidemann, Ashleigh Johnson and Rachel Fattal, the USA Women have won every major international championship since 2014.
Action gets underway on May 25 at 10:30pm et/7:30pm pt at the Brenda Villa Aquatic Center in Commerce, CA. From there the two head south to the William Woollett Aquatic Center in Irvine, California for a meeting on May 26 at 8:00pm et/5:00pm pt. The competition closes on June 2 at 9:00pm et/6:00pm pt at the El Segundo USD Aquatic Center in El Segundo, CA.
Two-time Olympic medalist Natalie Benson and four-time Olympic medalist Brenda Villa are joined by veteran USA Water Polo and collegiate coach John Abdou as game analysts during the series. Greg Mescall will handle play-by-play on all three matches.
“We are so thrilled to showcase our team and our sport to a national audience. We appreciate ESPN’s support in airing these matches and know that our fans are fired up to watch,” said Adam Krikorian, USA Water Polo Women’s National Team Head Coach. “For those who might be seeing water polo for the first time, welcome to an exciting, fast-paced sport that you’re sure to love. For us, there is no better preparation for Tokyo than world-class competition and playing a dynamic team like Hungary in this three-game series. We can’t wait to get started.”
Fans can access ESPNU through a variety of cable and streaming providers. Click here to access live streaming on ESPN.com or the ESPN app (authentication required). Live stats of all three matches will be available at TheFOSH.net. Follow @USAWP on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for additional updates throughout the series.
Due to local health regulations and in collaboration with venue capacity limitations, no tickets will be sold for these matches. Spectators will consist of athlete family and friends.
For more information on the USA Water Polo Women’s National Team, including roster and schedule click here.