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The U.S. women’s water polo team has regained the world championship title, seven months after its four-game winning streak ended.
The Americans defeated Hungary 8-7 in Friday’s final in Doha, completing the tournament undefeated.
The USA, led by a hat trick from two-time Olympic gold medalist Rachel Fattal, held on, scoring three goals in a span of 3 minutes, 23 seconds to break a 5-on-5 game at the start of the fourth quarter.
Goalie Ashley Johnson, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, also made 12 saves.
Maggie Steffens, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time Olympic MVP, leads the United States in goals (15) and minutes played (23 minutes, 25 seconds per game), leading Fatal in both categories. It followed.
Four of the U.S.’s six wins have come by one or two goals, proving just how close the world’s top teams are.
Last July, Italy defeated the United States in the World Championship quarterfinals. This ended the U.S. team’s winning streak at the world championships at 26, dating back to 2015 when they lost to Italy in group play.
The United States also won the last three Olympics. After last July’s World Championships, Dynasty overall coach Adam Krikorian said the team was not as good as past U.S. teams.
“They hate it when I say it, but it’s the truth.” Krikorian said last summer.. “We’re not as good as we used to be. We don’t have the offense that we used to, and we don’t have as balanced an offense as we used to.”
Italy finished third at the world championships last July, but were eliminated in the quarterfinals this week. Last year’s champions, the Netherlands, also lost in the quarterfinals in Doha (and to the United States in group play).
The United States had the same 15-man roster for the 2023 and 2024 World Championships. The Olympic roster will consist of 11 athletes plus an alternate.
The United States now heads into the Paris Olympics as the reigning world champions, aiming to become the first country to win four consecutive Olympic water polo titles in both men’s and women’s water polo.
In the men’s tournament, Italy will play Croatia in Saturday’s final. The United States lost to Italy in the playoff round with a chance to advance to the quarterfinals. The last time the U.S. men reached the semifinals was in 2009.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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