University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Lauren Steele
Photo by: Mac Brown
Steele Selected MPSF/Delfina Player of the Week
March 31, 2026 | Women's Water Polo
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. โ Lauren Steele of the UCLA women's water polo team was selected MPSF/Deflina Player of the Week Tuesday, the conference announced. The award represents the junior's fourth, and first of 2026.
Steele provided the last line of defense as the third-ranked Bruins held No. 5 Arizona State (March 28 โ 10-7) and No. 7 LMU (March 29 โ 9-5) to season-low goal totals (LMU matched its previous low) in wins. The Old Greenwich Conn. native piled up 21 saves, two assists and two steals over the weekend. She made a dozen stops against the Sun Devils, who are averaging 17.88 goals per game against teams other than UCLA.
The Bruins also improved to 10-2 versus top-10 teams going into Saturday's season finale at top-ranked USC (1 p.m. PT). UCLA is 18-2 overall and 4-1 in MPSF play.
Steele is the Bruins' second MPSF/Delfina Player of the Week in 2026. Taylor Smith earned the honor Feb. 3. Katherine O'Dea was tabbed MPSF/S&R Sport Newcomer of the Week March 3.
Others nominated: Juliette Dhalluin (STAN), Rachel Gazzaniga (USC), Darcy Spark (SJSU), Eszter Varró (CAL).
Steele provided the last line of defense as the third-ranked Bruins held No. 5 Arizona State (March 28 โ 10-7) and No. 7 LMU (March 29 โ 9-5) to season-low goal totals (LMU matched its previous low) in wins. The Old Greenwich Conn. native piled up 21 saves, two assists and two steals over the weekend. She made a dozen stops against the Sun Devils, who are averaging 17.88 goals per game against teams other than UCLA.
The Bruins also improved to 10-2 versus top-10 teams going into Saturday's season finale at top-ranked USC (1 p.m. PT). UCLA is 18-2 overall and 4-1 in MPSF play.
Steele is the Bruins' second MPSF/Delfina Player of the Week in 2026. Taylor Smith earned the honor Feb. 3. Katherine O'Dea was tabbed MPSF/S&R Sport Newcomer of the Week March 3.
Others nominated: Juliette Dhalluin (STAN), Rachel Gazzaniga (USC), Darcy Spark (SJSU), Eszter Varró (CAL).
Players Mentioned
ATK
/ Women's Water Polo
ATK
/ Women's Water Polo
GK
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