The U.S. women’s water polo team’s reign is over in the Olympics after losing to Australia 14–13 in a shootout in the semifinals of the Paris Games.
The Americans had won three consecutive Olympic gold medals in London (2012), Rio (2016), and Tokyo (2020, held in 2021). They also won silver medals in Sydney (2000) and Beijing (2008) and a bronze medal in Athens (2004).
Maddie Musselman and Jenna Flynn, who won an NCAA championship with Stanford in 2023, led the Americans with two goals apiece. U.S. goalkeeper Ashleigh Johnson came up huge with 12 saves, including several from point-blank range.
Australia will play for the gold medal on Aug. 10 against Spain, which edged the Netherlands 19–18 in a penalty shootout in the other semifinal.
The Americans led by three goals early in the first half, but the Australians did a better job pressing them defensively and setting their attack to get back in the game. Rachel Fattal, a First-Team All-American at UCLA, gave the United States an 8–6 lead with a power-player goal with 7:15 left in the fourth quarter. However, Bronte Halligan answered for Australia, cutting the lead to one.
The Aussies tied the game again 8–8 on a goal by Halligan with 2:54 remaining. Neither team could capitalize on close chances, and the game went into a penalty shootout.
Each team converted its first five chances before three-time Olympian Zoe Arancini gave Australia a 14–13 lead. The United States was sent home when Musselman’s shot was saved by Australian goalie Gabi Palm (14 saves).
Australia’s Alice Williams entered the game as the tournament’s top goal-scorer with 16 goals but picked up two exclusions in the first half. Australia has won three Olympic medals in water polo: gold in Sydney and bronze in Beijing and London.
The United States finished in second place in the group stage with a 3–1 record. Team USA beat Greece 15–6 in its opening match, but the Americans lost 13–11 to Spain in the second matchup. The Americans edged Hungary 5–4 in the quarterfinals and were led by Johnson, who finished with 17 saves.
Australia went unbeaten in Group A with victories over the Netherlands, Hungary, China, and Canada in their group stage. The Aussies advanced to the semifinals with a 9–6 victory over Greece.
Musselman opened the scoring for the United States when she converted a penalty shot with 5:21 left in the first quarter. The Americans were awarded another penalty shot a minute later, but Palm saved Flynn’s attempt. However, Flynn made up for the miss with a power-play goal. Charlize Andrews finally got Australia on the board with a goal with nine seconds remaining to cut the lead to 2–1 at the end of the opening quarter.
Musselman and Australia captain Arancini scored 18 seconds apart, and the Americans led 3–2. The United States dominated possession, and goals by Jovana Sekulic and Emily Ausmus gave the Americans a commanding 5–2 lead at the half.
The Aussies did a better job attacking the goal early in the third period, and Abby Andrews scored three straight goals to tie the game 5–5. Palm also had several huge saves that kept Australia within striking distance. The United States regained the lead with Flynn’s second goal, but Andrews scored again, and the game was tied 6–6. The Americans took the lead with just 18 seconds left on a shot by captain Maggie Steffens that went over Palm’s head.
