Team USA made history with both the men's and women's teams capturing a medal at the same FISU Games for the first time in history.
Team USA Makes History with Double Silver at FISU Games
July 26, 2025 | Men's Water Polo, Women's Water Polo
DUISBURG, Germanyย -- UniUSA captured silver medals at the 2025 FISU World University Games in both men's and women's water polo on Saturday, July 26 at ASC Duisburg (Amateur Swimming Club). Team USA, comprised of only players from UCLA Water Polo, made history at the 2025 FISU Games, becoming the first teams from the United States to win a medal in both sports at the same FISU Games. Both programs had great showings, despite missing several key players that were either with the U.S. National Teams or are international student-athletes.
On the women's side, it was the Americans' third medal overall and the first since 2017 (Gold: 2017, Silver: 2011). On the men's side, it was Team USA's 10th overall medal and first since capturing silver in 2019 (Gold: 1979, 1991, 1993; Silver: 1967, 1981, 1983, 2019, 2025; Bronze: 1973, 2015).
The American women lost to Germany, 9-6, in the gold medal match. Playing in her hometown, USC's Sinia Plotz led the Germans with a hat trick. Lauren Steele led UniUSA both defensively (12 saves) and offensively (two goals). Jojo Walters also added a pair of goals for the Americans.
The Americans got off to a dismal start offensively and trailed 3-0 at halftime. Germany led 4-0 before Team USA got on the board at the 3:48 mark of the third on a goal from two meters by Ana Pieper.
Germany built its largest lead of the game at 9-2 with 2:54 remaining in the contest. The Americans would score the final four goals of the game (two by Steele and one each from Walters and incoming freshman Katherine O'Dea) to make it respectable.
O'Dea, the Moore League and Long Beach Press Telegram's Player of the Year, led Team USA in scoring across the six contests of the FISU Games with 10 goals, which ranked 14th in the tournament field. Steele finished the tournament as one of the most outstanding goalkeepers, finishing second in saves (69) and in save percentage (62.2%, 69-for-111). She also led the tournament field in penalty stops in goal at a whopping 41.7 percentage (5-for-12) and tied for first in steals with seven. Dania Innis finished second in the tournament in center shot scoring, finding the back of the net on five of her 10 shots from two meters. Tali Stryker tied for first but had a much high win percentage as the tournament's sprints leader, winning 81.8 percent of her attempts (9-for-11). Germany's Marijke Kijlstra also won nine sprints, but in 20 tries (40.5%).
In the men's gold medal final, Italy won the match, 16-12, on the strength of a strong third quarter. The two teams
The Italians were led by a trio of players that each scored a hat trick, Pietro Faraglia, Alessandro Carnesecchi, and Alessndro Balzarini. Team USA was led by a pair of hat tricks from Bode Brinkema and incoming freshman Hayden O'Hare (Campolindo High School). Nate Tauscher recorded a game-high 11 saves to go with one steal.
For the tournament, Brinkema led the Americans in scoring with 17 goals across the tournament's six games, which tied for seventh in the field. Peter Castillo was second on the squad and tied for 18th in the field with 13 goals. Brinkema did the bulk of his scoring damage on the power play, scoring a tournament-high-tying seven goals on 14 shots. Castillo was right behind him among the power play stats leaders ranking tied for third with six goals (on 11 shots). Brinkema also finished third in sprints won with seven (on 13 attempts, 53.8%) while Max Matthews was seventh (6-for-9, 66.7%). Tauscher led all goalkeepers in the tournament with 74 saves on 141 shots for a 52.5% save percentage, which ranked third in the tournament. He also finished tied for second in steals with seven. Noah Rowe added two goals in the gold medal game to finish with 10 goals at the Games.
Germany vs. USA (Women's Gold Medal Game - ASC Duisburg - 2025 FISU World University Games)
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| USA | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Germany | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 9 |
6x5 -ย USA - 0/9 - GER- 2/5
Penalties -ย USA - 0/1 - GER - 2/3
USA Goals:ย Lauren Steele 2, Jojo Walters 2, Katherine O'Deaย 1, Ana Pieper 1
USA Saves:ย Lauren Steele 12
GER Goals:ย Sinia Plotz 3, Emma Seehafer 2, Elena Ludwig 2, Marijke Kijlstraย 2
GER Saves:ย Darja Heinbichner 19
Italy vs. USA (Men's Gold Medal Game - ASC Duisburg - 2025 FISU World University Games)
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| USA | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 12 |
| Italy | 4 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 16 |
6x5 -ย USA - 8/16 - ITA - 2/7
Penalties -ย USA - 1/1 - ITA - 2/2
USA Goals:ย Hayden O'Hare 3, Bode Brinkema 3, Noah Rowe 2, Eli Liechty 1, Wade Sherlock 1, Ben Larsen 1, Max Matthews 1
USA Saves:ย Nate Tauscher 11
ITA Goals:ย Pietro Faraglia 3, Alessandro Carnesecchi 3 Alessandro Balzarini 3, Davide Occhione 2, Andrea Condemi 2, Stefano Ballarini 1, Mattiaย Rocchino 1, Alessandro Gullotta 1
ITA Saves:ย Rocco Valle 7
ย
Players Mentioned
UTL
/ Men's Water Polo
UTL
/ Men's Water Polo
CTR
/ Women's Water Polo
UTL
/ Men's Water Polo
CTR
/ Men's Water Polo
DEF
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Women's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
GK
/ Women's Water Polo
ATK
/ Women's Water Polo
GK
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
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