During an intense fourth quarter of the championship, livestream cameras focused on the University of Southern California women’s water polo team.
They captured the Trojans celebrating.
“That just shows who we are as a team,” said attacker Maggie Johnson.
The word “joy” really sums up the heights the team has reached.
USC clinched its eighth national championship in women’s water polo with a narrow 10-9 win over California on Sunday at Canyon View Aquatic Center in La Jolla. This victory marks the first national title for third-year coach Casey Moon.
The previous two seasons had ended in disappointment for Moon, with the Trojans falling short in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals once and missing the championship the following year. He made it clear to his players that he’d do everything possible to avoid those feelings again.
Yet, even with that determination, Moon maintained his belief that enjoyment should be at the core of the team’s approach.
“I think fun is what defines us,” stated goaltender Anna Reid. “Honestly, I don’t know how others manage if they aren’t enjoying themselves, but our team really focuses on having fun.”
Creating a relaxed environment, like holding dance parties in the locker room or by the pool, has been part of their team culture. Reid even chuckled during a Zoom interview on Tuesday, despite some connectivity issues.
“It’s always fun, and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” said Reid, who achieved a career-high 14 saves against the Golden Bears. “We really keep things light—joking and having fun—which I think has been crucial this year, especially in the tournament. It prevents anyone from feeling overwhelmed.”
That said, the Trojans know when to buckle down and focus.
To make it to the championship, they had to take down their rivals, UCLA, against whom they had only two losses in the regular season.
“That Bruin team is strong—great coaching, top talent,” Moon commented after his third-seeded team narrowly beat second-seeded UCLA 11-10 in the semifinals. “But when it counted, our six was better than their six, and I believe that connection is key. We truly feel like a family, like sisters, and that really helped us beat a fantastic UCLA team.”
The Trojans never fell behind during the championship match, staving off any threats from fourth-seeded California. They entered the fourth quarter with just a one-goal lead, yet that didn’t stop them from celebrating with the crowd as they sent off their six seniors.
“In that moment, I thought, wow, this is what matters; this is what we’ve been working for,” Reid expressed her feelings once the game concluded. “It’s a surreal experience.”
And yet another reason to celebrate.
