Stanford players dominate top-ranked U.S. women’s water polo Olympic roster
Six Stanford players dominate the Olympic roster of the highly favored U.S. women’s water polo team headed to the Tokyo Games.
Coach Adam Kirkorian, who grew up in Mountain View, picked a veteran squad of 13 players, all but one from California, USA Water Polo announced Wednesday.
The top-ranked team includes two-time Olympic champions Maggie Steffens and Melissa Seidemann — former Stanford stars from the East Bay. The other Cardinal players are sisters Aria and Makenzie Fischer, Maddie Musselman and Jamie Neushul.
Five of the players, including 2016 Olympians Rachel Fattal and Kaleigh Gilchrist, are from USC.
Steffens, who grew up in Danville, is considered the world’s best player. She has led the United States to multiple titles in all major international competitions.
Steffens scored four goals last weekend as the Americans defeated Hungary 14-8 to win their seventh consecutive World League Super Final championship.
The team is 169-5 since December 2015, and has not lost at an Olympics, World Championship, World Cup or World League Super Final in that period.
The United States has won a medal in every Olympics women’s water polo tournament since the sport made its debut in 2000.
