Best American Women’s Water Polo Players of the NCAA Era

The Best American Women’s 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 women’s water polo as a varsity sport during the 1995-96 school year.  From 1995 through 2000, some college coaches organized an unofficial national collegiate championship tournament (“tournament”).  Eight schools (a combination of varsity and club teams) participated in the 1995 and 1996 tournaments.  In 1997, the tournament was expanded to 16 schools.  At about this time, all of the schools participating in the tournament had varsity teams.  Slippery Rock University won the tournament in 1995; USC won in 1999; and UCLA won in 1996, 1997, 1998, and 2000.

The NCAA recognized women’s water polo as an official varsity sport during the 2000-01 school year.  The first NCAA tournament was held in 2001.  Only three schools have won an NCAA women’s Division 1 water polo championship:  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).

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

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

How I Made the Selections

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

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’s Player-of-the-Year Award or the Cutino Award.  Every individual on my list was an ACWPC All-American at least twice; 23 were first-team All-Americans at least once.  Seventeen won the Player-of-the-Year Award or the Cutino Award at least once.

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

Fourth, where applicable, I considered how an individual performed in her professional career.

Fifth, I considered the extent to which opposing teams had to account for an individual in their game plans.

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.

Here are some observations about the 25 individuals on my list:

• Twenty-three played high school water polo in California.
• 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.
• 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.
• John Tanner coached 10 individuals on the list while they were in college, Adam Krikorian coached five, and Jovan Vavic coached four.
• 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’s list are left-handed).
• Two played on Stanford’s 2002 national championship team, two played on Stanford’s 2011 national championship team, three played on Stanford’s 2014 national championship team, two played on Stanford’s 2015 national championship team, three played on Stanford’s 2017 national championship team, two played on Stanford’s 2019 national championship team, two played on Stanford’s 2022 national championship team, three played on UCLA’s 2001 national championship team, three played on UCLA’s 2003 national championship team, three played on UCLA’s undefeated 2005 national championship team, two played on UCLA’s 2006 national championship team, two played on UCLA’s 2007 national championship team, and two played on USC’s undefeated 2004 national championship team.
• 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.

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’s water polo players of the NCAA era follows below.  In Part I of this Article, I will discuss the individuals I have ranked Nos. 21 to 25.  In Part II, I will discuss the individuals I have ranked Nos. 11 to 20.  In Part III, I will discuss the individuals I have ranked Nos. 1 to 10.

25. Amanda Longan – 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).

Former USC coach Jovan Vavic, speaking with a reporter at the 2018 Cutino Award ceremonies:  “It’s always great for a hardworking and committed athlete to be awarded like this.  Amanda is a special (person) who has worked so hard from the beginning since she joined us.  I don’t think you know this but when she was a freshman she didn’t make the junior national team—she was the third goalie selected for junior worlds.  She was bummed about that, but one of the substitute goalies got injured and they called her back.  She goes to junior worlds and she becomes MVP as the U.S. wins a gold medal.  That gives you an idea what kind of a player Amanda is.  She never quits.”  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’t play another game.  In Longan’s case, the answer is yes.  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.

24. Jessica Steffens – center defender, Monte Vista High School and Stanford (2x All-American, 2x 1^st team All-American, 2x Olympian, 1x gold medalist, 1x silver medalist, 1x FINA world champion, Hall of Fame).

I asked Susan Ortwein, Stanford’s longtime associate head coach, about Steffens.  She said:  “Jessica is someone who took pride in playing 2M defense and being able to shut down the opponent.  She enjoyed the duel with the center and made it extremely hard for them to get position or take a quality shot.  Jess has the leg strength and length that most defenders dream of.  Her ability to stay poised in high-stress situations is a strength and life skill that she carries with her today.”  Guy Baker, Steffens’ coach on the 2008 Olympic team, told me:  “From 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.  Jessica’s excellence led her to being one of the top center defenders at the 2008 Olympic Games.”  Stanford coach John Tanner speaking with a reporter in April 2019 after learning he would be inducted into the Hall of Fame:  “The coolest part is that Jessica Steffens is in the same class.  Because they go in alphabetical order, I’ll follow her into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame.  That’s sensational because Jessica has had the biggest heart of just about anyone who has ever played in this pool.  She put her body on the line to make blocks.  She’s the hockey player who dives in front of the puck.  When things were at their worst, she was always at her best.  It’s a huge honor to be inducted with her.”

23. Ericka Lorenz – 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).

Lorenz played professionally in Italy.  Natalie Golda Benson, Lorenz’s teammate on the 2004 Olympic team, speaking with USA Water Polo after  Lorenz was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021:  “Ericka was freakishly athletic.  She could do things that other people couldn’t do.”  Cal coach Coralie Simmons, Lorenz’s teammate on the 2000 Olympic team, speaking with Cal Athletics after Lorenz was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021:  “Ericka was an anomaly in terms of just being so explosive and powerful and having talent that the game maybe hadn’t seen yet.  Whether it be her speed, her strength or her offensive capabilities, she was above and beyond where the game was at that point.  She was one of the best shooters in the world and really fun to play with.”  I asked Guy Baker, Lorenz’s coach on the 2000 and 2004 Olympic teams, about Lorenz.  He said:  “To echo what Coralie said, I don’t 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.  I can still see (it) to this day.  Ericka’s attacking abilities had a significant impact on our approach to and methods for player development and team tactics.”

22. Moriah Van Norman – 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).

Van Norman scored 215 goals during her four years at USC.  I asked Doug Peabody, Van Norman’s coach at the San Diego Shores Water Polo Club, about Van Norman.  He compared her physical style of play to Melissa Seidemann’s and said:  “Mariah came from a swimming family.  She didn’t start playing water polo until her freshman year in high school.  She was an unstoppable force.  She had the talent to play in three Olympics.”  Guy Baker, Van Norman’s coach on the 2008 Olympic team, told me that “Moriah was one of the top centers in the world in 2007 and 2008, especially 2007.  She was unstoppable.”  More from Baker:  “Moriah was one of the key leaders throughout the 2008 quadrennial.  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.”  Van Norman should be in the Hall of Fame.

21. Heather Petri – 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).

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

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’s water polo players of the NCAA era.