University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA Trio Named to Cutino Award Watch List
March 26, 2026 | Women's Water Polo
IRVINE, Calif. โ Three members of the UCLA women's water polo team were named to the 2026 Peter J. Cutino Award Watch List Thursday, USA Water Polo and The Olympic Club announced in collaboration with the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches. Named in honor of the late Hall of Fame coach, the Cutino Award recognizes the best player in men's and women's college water polo each year.
Seniors Bia Mantellato, Anna Pearson and Taylor Smith were chosen to the group, which is made up of 20 athletes recognized by varsity college coaches for their outstanding play. The watch list was created in 2022 to help promote the college game, awareness of the award and the excellent play of athletes across the country.
Smith (52 goals), Mantellato (44) and Pearson (38) make up the Bruins' top three goal scorers. Smith set a new career high for goals scored just 13 games into the season. She has scored in 17 of 18 games, posting a multi-goal effort in 16 of them. Smith was tabbed MPSF/Delfina Player of the Week Feb. 3 after scoring 15 goals across four games during UCLA's Triton Invitational championship run. Mantellato, who was a Cutino Award finalist in 2024 while at Hawai'i, has scored two or more goals in 14 straight games. She totaled six in a 10-9 win against USC (Feb. 14). Pearson also had a six-goal showing earlier this season (Feb. 28 versus Michigan) and has scored four or more goals in four games.
While it's possible the 2026 Cutino Award winner will come from the list of athletes below, this list of honorees is completely independent from the nomination and voting process of the Cutino Award as that honor will acknowledge the full impact of the 2026 season. The 2026 Cutino Awards will take place on the evening of Saturday, June 6 at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.
Athletes are listed in alphabetical order
1. Emily Ausmus | USC | Sophomore | Attacker
2. Julia Bonaguidi | California | Junior | Attacker
3. Christine Carpenter | Stanford | Junior | Goalkeeper
4. Orli Cooper | Harvard | Sophomore | Goalkeeper
5. Juliette Dhalluin | Stanford | Redshirt Junior | Attacker
6. Despoina Drakatou | California | Freshman | Utility
7. Jenna Flynn | Stanford | Redshirt Junior | Attacker
8. Rachel Gazzaniga | USC | Junior | Center
9. Alex Love | Brown | Senior | Attacker
10. Bia Mantellato | UCLA | Senior | Center
11. Lucy Miszewski | Long Beach State | Senior | Utility
12. Anna Pearson | UCLA | Senior | Utility
13. Millie Quin | Arizona State | Senior | Attacker
14. Abigail Schechter | UC San Diego | Junior | Attacker
15. Francesca Sena | Wagner | Senior | Goalkeeper
16. Taylor Smith | UCLA | Senior | Attacker
17. Darcy Spark | San Jose State | Junior | Attacker
18. Ava Stryker | USC | Junior | Attacker
19. Anna Tarantino | LMU | Graduate Student | Utility
20. Feline Voordouw | California | Junior | Center
Seniors Bia Mantellato, Anna Pearson and Taylor Smith were chosen to the group, which is made up of 20 athletes recognized by varsity college coaches for their outstanding play. The watch list was created in 2022 to help promote the college game, awareness of the award and the excellent play of athletes across the country.
Smith (52 goals), Mantellato (44) and Pearson (38) make up the Bruins' top three goal scorers. Smith set a new career high for goals scored just 13 games into the season. She has scored in 17 of 18 games, posting a multi-goal effort in 16 of them. Smith was tabbed MPSF/Delfina Player of the Week Feb. 3 after scoring 15 goals across four games during UCLA's Triton Invitational championship run. Mantellato, who was a Cutino Award finalist in 2024 while at Hawai'i, has scored two or more goals in 14 straight games. She totaled six in a 10-9 win against USC (Feb. 14). Pearson also had a six-goal showing earlier this season (Feb. 28 versus Michigan) and has scored four or more goals in four games.
While it's possible the 2026 Cutino Award winner will come from the list of athletes below, this list of honorees is completely independent from the nomination and voting process of the Cutino Award as that honor will acknowledge the full impact of the 2026 season. The 2026 Cutino Awards will take place on the evening of Saturday, June 6 at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.
Athletes are listed in alphabetical order
1. Emily Ausmus | USC | Sophomore | Attacker
2. Julia Bonaguidi | California | Junior | Attacker
3. Christine Carpenter | Stanford | Junior | Goalkeeper
4. Orli Cooper | Harvard | Sophomore | Goalkeeper
5. Juliette Dhalluin | Stanford | Redshirt Junior | Attacker
6. Despoina Drakatou | California | Freshman | Utility
7. Jenna Flynn | Stanford | Redshirt Junior | Attacker
8. Rachel Gazzaniga | USC | Junior | Center
9. Alex Love | Brown | Senior | Attacker
10. Bia Mantellato | UCLA | Senior | Center
11. Lucy Miszewski | Long Beach State | Senior | Utility
12. Anna Pearson | UCLA | Senior | Utility
13. Millie Quin | Arizona State | Senior | Attacker
14. Abigail Schechter | UC San Diego | Junior | Attacker
15. Francesca Sena | Wagner | Senior | Goalkeeper
16. Taylor Smith | UCLA | Senior | Attacker
17. Darcy Spark | San Jose State | Junior | Attacker
18. Ava Stryker | USC | Junior | Attacker
19. Anna Tarantino | LMU | Graduate Student | Utility
20. Feline Voordouw | California | Junior | Center
Players Mentioned
CTR
/ Women's Water Polo
UTL
/ Women's Water Polo
ATK
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