The U.S. women’s water polo team made Olympics history in their opening matching, routing host Japan 25-4 in the first of their four preliminary round games.
The Saturday victory saw the Americans topple the Olympic record for most goals in a game with 25 and the record for largest halftime total — the U.S. scored 14 in the 1st half.
The 21-point win also overtook Australia’s 16-3 win over Great Britain in 2012 as the biggest margin of victory in Olympics history.
A dominant, record-breaking win for the U.S. Olympic Women's Water Polo Team to open play in Tokyo. @maggiesteffens and @SHaralabidis with five goals each while @theAshJohnson adds 15 saves in net.MORE: https://t.co/rkihqKAncQ#OlympicGames #waterpolo pic.twitter.com/1iUIkqkTYy— USA Water Polo (@USAWP) July 24, 2021
A dominant, record-breaking win for the U.S. Olympic Women's Water Polo Team to open play in Tokyo. @maggiesteffens and @SHaralabidis with five goals each while @theAshJohnson adds 15 saves in net.MORE: https://t.co/rkihqKAncQ#OlympicGames #waterpolo pic.twitter.com/1iUIkqkTYy
Nine total players scored for the U.S. as the team begins the chase for a gold medal. The team is primed to make history again as the first three-peat Olympic champions.
Notable performances came from Maggie Steffens and Stephanie Haralabidis who scored five goals each, while at the other end, goalkeeper Ashleigh Johnson stopped 15 of 19 shots.
Team USA returns on Monday to play China.