USC women's water polo won their eighth national championship, defeating Cal 10-9 at the Canyonview Aquatic Center. This victory marks the first title for head coach Casey Moon after two previous postseason disappointments.
Key points
USC women's water polo won their eighth national championship
They defeated Cal 10-9 in the title game
The game took place at Canyonview Aquatic Center in La Jolla
Head coach Casey Moon achieved his first national title
USC had previously lost in the national title game last season
Mentioned in this story
Canyonview Aquatic Center
USC TrojansCalifornia Golden BearsNCAA Women's Water Polo Championship
Heading into the fourth quarter of a drama-drenched championship, the livestream camera zoomed in on the huddle of the USC womenâs water polo team.
To find the Trojans dancing.
âThat,â attacker Maggie Johnson said, âjust encapsulates what our team is.â
After falling short in the postseason the past two seasons, including losing in last seasonâs national title game, third-year USC head Casey Moon finally got that elusive national championship. USC womenâs water polo won its eighth national championship on Sunday at the Canyonview Aquatic Center in La Jolla when the Trojans beat Cal 10-9 in the title game.@USCWaterPolo/X
After falling short in the postseason the past two seasons, including losing in last seasonâs national title game, third-year USC head Casey Moon finally got that elusive national championship. USC womenâs water polo won its eighth national championship on Sunday at the Canyonview Aquatic Center in La Jolla when the Trojans beat Cal 10-9 in the title game.
@USCWaterPolo/X
Joy has been the operative word for a team that has taken it to a new extreme.
Beating California, 10-9, on Sunday at the Canyonview Aquatic Center in La Jolla gave USC its eighth national championship in the sport and first under third-year coach Casey Moon.
Moonâs first two seasons had ended in heartache, the Trojans losing in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament one year and the championship the next. The coach told his players he would do everything he could to make sure they didnât experience that feeling again.
But the former longtime USC assistant coach never strayed from his belief that his team should always enjoy what itâs doing.
âI think fun would be the defining word of this team,â goalie Anna Reed said. âI donât know how else anybody would get through this if you werenât having fun, but I think our team does it really to the max.â
USC womenâs water polo won its eighth national championship on Sunday at the Canyonview Aquatic Center in La Jolla when the Trojans beat Cal 10-9 in the title game. @USCWaterPolo/X
Staging dance parties in the locker room and poolside is just part of the lighthearted approach. Reed even laughed through a glitchy WiFi connection during her Zoom with reporters on Tuesday afternoon.
âItâs constant, constant fun and I wouldnât have it any other way,â said Reed, who made a career-high 14 saves during the victory over the Golden Bears. âWeâre really unserious, and I think it helped us a lot this year â and especially throughout the tournament. Like, weâre cracking jokes the whole time, weâre making fun of each other, we keep it light so that nobody really gets in their head.â
Thatâs not to say the Trojans donât lock in when necessary.
To reach the championship, they had to beat rival UCLA â which had handed the Trojans their only two losses of the regular season.
âThat Bruin team is great â great coach, great personnel,â said Moon, whose third-seeded team prevailed over second-seeded UCLA, 11-10, in a semifinal. âBut when it mattered, our six versus their six, [we] were better and I think it was just kind of this connectivity. Itâs the aspect of family and we really, really are sisters together and I think that is what really gave us the ability to elevate and beat a great team in UCLA.â
No. 3 seeded USC took down No. 4 Cal on Sunday to win the national championship, the eighth in USC history. @USCWaterPolo/X
Never trailing in the championship, the Trojans held off every challenge from fourth-seeded Cal. Leading by just one goal entering the fourth quarter couldnât prevent them from dancing in the huddle on the way to providing their six seniors a joyous sendoff.
âIn that moment, itâs like, oh my god, this is what itâs all about and this is what itâs for and this is what our hard work has all led to,â Reed said when asked how she felt the moment the game was over. âItâs a really surreal feeling.â
And just another reason to dance.
Q&A
What was the final score of the USC vs Cal women's water polo championship game?
USC defeated Cal 10-9 in the national championship game.
How many national championships has USC women's water polo won?
USC women's water polo has won a total of eight national championships.
Who is the head coach of USC women's water polo?
The head coach of USC women's water polo is Casey Moon.
Where was the USC women's water polo championship game held?
The championship game was held at the Canyonview Aquatic Center in La Jolla.
Related Articles
Sports
Red Sox Promoting Nate Eaton Leaves Major Question Unanswered
Red Sox are promoting Nate Eaton, but who will be removed from the roster?
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports·Feature
Commonwealth Games unveils 'inclusive' medals inspired by Glasgow
The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will feature inclusive medals designed by Militsa Milenkova, incorporating braille and tactile elements. A total of 215 gold medals will be awarded across 10 sports and six Para sports from July 23 to August 2.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports
Jake Paul doubts Dana White feels threatened by MVP MMA: 'He's checked out'
Jake Paul believes Dana White isn't threatened by MVP MMA's debut.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports
Presunto acoso en las secciones inferiores del Torrelavega: insultos homĂłfobos, machistas y gordĂłfobos
Familiares denuncian acoso en el Torrelavega con insultos homĂłfobos y machistas.
Marca··1 min read
Sports
Metro Detroit high school lacrosse notebook: Grosse Pointe South girls off to hot start
Grosse Pointe South girls lacrosse team boasts a strong 12-4 record and top 10 ranking!
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
NFL·Feature
Heath Miller talks favorite Steelers memories, NFL Draft in Pittsburgh
Heath Miller shares favorite Steelers memories and discusses NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.
See every story in Sports â including breaking news and analysis.
USC womenâs water polo won its eighth national championship on Sunday at the Canyonview Aquatic Center in La Jolla when the Trojans beat Cal 10-9 in the title game. @USCWaterPolo/X
No. 3 seeded USC took down No. 4 Cal on Sunday to win the national championship, the eighth in USC history. @USCWaterPolo/X