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Makenzie & Aria Fischer To Be Honored Before June 20 Match Against Spain

Story Links Irvine, CA – May 29, 2025 – Two-time Olympic gold medalists Makenzie and Aria Fischer will be honored on June 20 following their retirement from international water polo. The dynamic sister act from Laguna Beach, California, won every possible championship and will be recognized prior to the start of […]

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Irvine, CA – May 29, 2025 – Two-time Olympic gold medalists Makenzie and Aria Fischer will be honored on June 20 following their retirement from international water polo. The dynamic sister act from Laguna Beach, California, won every possible championship and will be recognized prior to the start of the USA Women’s National Team match against Spain at 7pm PT at the Woollett Aquatics Center in Irvine. Tickets for the match are available by clicking here. Live streaming will available at Overnght.com.

“It feels surreal that I was able to play the sport I loved with my best friends while representing our country on the biggest athletic stage,” said Makenzie, 28, who is two years older than Aria. “The memories that stick with me most are the laughs shared with teammates in the in-between moments along the journey, not a goal scored or a game won. Water polo has truly introduced me to some of the most wonderful people in my life. I am also thankful for all of the coaches I had along the way that pushed me to be the best version of myself in and out of the pool. Finally, I would not have achieved the success I did without my family’s unwavering support and commitment. I feel especially lucky to have been able to share this entire journey with Aria right by my side, something I will cherish forever! As I close out this chapter of my life, I am walking away with lifelong friendships and irreplaceable mentors. Water polo has also given me the grit and confidence to tackle whatever the next challenge might be!”

Makenzie’s star-studded career included two Olympic gold medals, three World Championship titles, two Pan American Games crowns and one World Cup. Collegiately, she was one of the all-time greats. She led Stanford to three NCAA Championship titles (including two with Aria, in 2019 and 2022), was twice named the NCAA Tournament MVP, and twice won the Cutino Award which honors the top player in the college game. She was also a four-time All-America selection. Her dominance was clear even at Laguna Beach High School, where she won two CIF Southern Section titles and was twice named player of the year.

USA Water Polo national team head coach Adam Krikorian said of Makenzie: “Her speed, length, versatility, and intelligence truly opened the door for our team to play the beautiful style of game that people across the globe were in awe of. It’s no coincidence that her growth was directly correlated with the program’s rise to prominence. Fish is one of the rare few that could change the outcome of a competition with her performance in ANY phase of the game.  Matching her world-class skills with savvy intuition helped to spark numerous dominating performances.”

Aria, 26, shared many of the same podiums as her sister, including Olympic gold in both 2016 and 2020. But Aria made history of her own in Rio 2016 by becoming the youngest female team-sport athlete in US history to win gold, at 17.  She also claimed two World Championship titles in 2017 and 2019 (both with Makenzie), as well as Pan American Games and World Cup gold. At Stanford, Aria made her mark on three NCAA Championship teams and was named the 2023 Cutino Award winner and ACWPC Player of the Year. She was also a four-time All-American and NCAA Tournament MVP. At Laguna Beach High School, she won three CIF Southern Section titles and was named player of the year in 2017.

“It’s not an easy decision to retire from a sport knowing that athletically you have more to give,” Aria said, “but, ultimately, I’m proud of myself for always placing my happiness and mental health above everything else, and for knowing when it’s time to let go. I grew up playing on the US National Team, and I’m honored to have played alongside so many strong women who taught me so much about water polo and life during those formative teenage years. I will always appreciate my teammates and the irreplaceable bond we’ve developed over the years. I’m thankful for every coach I’ve had along the way: high school, club, college, and national team. Without them, none of my success is possible. A special thank you to my coaches at Stanford, JT, Susan, and Kyle, for always looking at me as a human being first, water polo player second. I will forever be grateful to my mom and dad, who sacrificed so much for me to be able to train, especially that first Olympics. Thank you to my Oma and Opa, who never missed a game. And lastly, thanks to my sister Makenzie, one of the best water polo players to ever play the game. Water polo made us inseparable, and there is no one else I would rather share the experience of winning two Olympic gold medals with than my sister. I couldn’t think of a better way to go out than together.”

Krikorian added, “What goes untold about Aria’s journey is just how much she immersed herself into the process of improvement.  Not just the time and effort she put in, but the thought and intention in which she plotted out her path.  Her rise from the youngest member on the 2016 Team to becoming one of the most dominant centers to play the game, was truly remarkable.  The fiercest of competitors, she held each one of us to a competitive standard that kept us hungry and always striving for perfection.”

For more information on the Team USA Women and their series against Spain, click here.

 

 



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