IRVINE, Calif. – USA Women’s National Team Head Coach Adam Krikorian has announced the rosters for upcoming competition at the 2019 FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea. Coach Krikorian has selected 13 athletes for the water polo competition and seven athletes for the beach water polo competition. Team USA is currently ranked number one in the world and has claimed gold at the last two FINA World Championships. They have won the FINA World Championship five times in program history (2003, 2007, 2009, 2015 and 2017), more than any other women’s water polo nation. Team USA qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games by virtue of a gold medal finish at the FINA World League Super Final held last month in Hungary.
Team USA’s World Championship roster is anchored by a host of experience including nine members of the team that won gold at the 2016 Olympic Games and 10 members of the 2017 FINA World Championship squad. Captain Maggie Steffens (Danville, CA/Stanford/NYAC) leads Team USA alongside fellow two-time Olympic champion Melissa Seidemann (Walnut Creek, CA/Stanford/NYAC). Ashleigh Johnson (Miami, FL/Princeton/NYAC) and Kaleigh Gilchrist (Newport Beach, CA/USC/NYAC) return to the World Championship stage for the first time since 2015 after stepping away from water polo in the summer of 2017. Stephania Haralabidis (Athens, Greece/USC/NYAC) makes her World Championship debut with Team USA in 2019 helping round out a well-balanced squad.
The United States will open play on July 14 against New Zealand before meeting the Netherlands and South Africa to close out group play. A champion will be crowned on July 26. Visit OmegaTiming.com for complete event results including box scores, start lists and play-by-play. Live coverage of the FINA World Championship will air on The Olympic Channel. Contact your cable provider to find out how you can access programming.
2019 marks the first year of beach water polo at the FINA World Championship. Coach Krikorian selected seven athletes led by 2017 FINA World Champions Gabby Stone (La Jolla, CA/Stanford/San Diego Shores), Jordan Raney (Manhattan Beach, CA/Stanford/Huntington Beach WPF) and Jamie Neushul (Isla Vista, CA/Stanford/NYAC). Team USA will open competition on July 13 against China before taking on Australia and Spain. A champion will be crowned on July 18.
USA Women’s National Team 2019 FINA World Championship Roster (Hometown/College/USA Water Polo Club)
Ashleigh Johnson (Miami, FL/Princeton/NYAC)
Amanda Longan (Moorpark, CA/USC/Santa Barbara 805)
Aria Fischer (Laguna Beach, CA/Stanford/SET)
Melissa Seidemann (Walnut Creek, CA/Stanford/NYAC)
Makenzie Fischer (Laguna Beach, CA/Stanford/SET)
Paige Hauschild (Santa Barbara, CA/USC/Santa Barbara 805)
Alys Williams (Huntington Beach, CA/UCLA/Huntington Beach WPF)
Rachel Fattal (Seal Beach, CA/UCLA/SOCAL)
Kiley Neushul (Isla Vista, CA/Stanford/NYAC)
Maddie Musselman (Newport Beach, CA/UCLA/CdM Aquatics)
Maggie Steffens (Danville, CA/Stanford/NYAC)
Stephania Haralabidis (Athens, Greece/USC/NYAC)
Kaleigh Gilchrist (Newport Beach, CA/USC/NYAC)
USA Women’s National Team 2019 FINA World Championship Beach Roster
(Hometown/College/USA Water Polo Club)
Gabby Stone (La Jolla, CA/Stanford/San Diego Shores)
Jamie Neushul (Isla Vista, CA/Stanford/NYAC)
Ryann Neushul (Isla Vista, CA/Stanford/Santa Barbara 805)
Brigitta Games (Littleton, CO/USC/NYAC)
Jordan Raney (Manhattan Beach, CA/Stanford/Huntington Beach WPF)
Jewel Roemer (Martinez, CA/Acalanes HS/680 Water Polo)
Honnie Vandeweghe-O’Shea (Laguna Hills, CA/Santa Margarita HS/SET)
Head Coach: Adam Krikorian
Assistant Coach: Dan Klatt
Team Manager: Liz Grimes
Sports Medicine Manager: Larnie Boquiren
USA Women’s National Team FINA World Championship Schedule
July 14 – USA vs New Zealand 9:50am (5:50pm pt – July 13)
July 16 – USA vs Netherlands 7:10pm (3:10am pt)
July 18 – USA vs South Africa 4:30pm (12:30am pt)
July 20 – TBD (crossover round)
July 22 – TBD (quarterfinals)
July 24 – TBD (semifinals)
July 26 – TBD (finals)
USA Women’s National Team FINA World Championship Beach Schedule
July 13 – USA vs China 10:15am (6:15pm pt – July 12)
July 14 – USA vs Australia 2:15pm (10:15pm pt – July 13)
July 16 – USA vs Spain 2:15pm (10:15pm pt – July 15)
July 18 – TBD – Finals
