The United States women’s water polo team clinched its fourth straight world championship title, downing hosts Hungary 9-7 in Sunday’s final in Budapest.
.@KGilchrist15 draws a key penalty and @maddiemusselman delivers her fifth goal of the day on the penalty shot. The goal clinches the World Championship for @TeamUSA. Their fourth straight! 🥇🥇🥇🥇#sctop10 @ESPNAssignDesk @SportsCenter pic.twitter.com/ydYNfoA8Gn— USA Water Polo (@USAWP) July 3, 2022
.@KGilchrist15 draws a key penalty and @maddiemusselman delivers her fifth goal of the day on the penalty shot. The goal clinches the World Championship for @TeamUSA. Their fourth straight! 🥇🥇🥇🥇#sctop10 @ESPNAssignDesk @SportsCenter pic.twitter.com/ydYNfoA8Gn
Since 2016, the United States has dropped just one game across the Olympics, World Championship, World Cup and World Super League Final competitions.
Seven of the 13 athletes from the Tokyo gold medal-winning team returned for worlds, with MVP Maddie Musselman notching five goals in the team’s title game. Captain Maggie Steffens logged one goal, while Ryann Neushul scored three times in her world championship debut.
In goal, Ashleigh Johnson quieted Hungary, blocking ten shots throughout the final.
“The difference was our defense,” U.S. head coach Adam Krikorian said. “I don’t think we were very pretty offensively.”