The Top American Women’s Water Polo Players of the NCAA Era (Part II: No. 11-No. 20)

By Jeff Moulton – Guest Editorial

In Part II of this three-part series, water polo historian Jeff Moulton discusses the individuals he has ranked Nos. 11 to 20 in his unofficial list of the top-25 American women’s water polo players of the NCAA era.  Part I is linked below and includes an explanation of the criteria Moulton used to make his selections.

Part I (No. 21-No. 25)

20. Courtney Mathewson – attacker, Canyon High School and UCLA (4x NCAA champion, 2x All-American, 1x 1st team All-American, 1x Cutino Award winner, 1x ACWPC player of the year, 2x Olympian, 2x gold medalist, 1x FINA world champion, Hall of Fame).

Photo Courtesy: Jeff Cable

Mathewson scored the winning goal with one second left in the 2006 NCAA championship game between UCLA and USC.  She played professionally in Spain.  Adam Krikorian, Mathewson’s coach at UCLA and on the 2012 and 2016 Olympics teams, speaking with USA Water Polo in 2017 after Mathewson announced her retirement from the senior national team:  “Courtney’s humble approach and quiet confidence were uniquely combined with a determination and competitiveness that was unmatched.  These traits aligned with our program’s values therefore magnifying the benefit of her leadership on a daily basis.  Her deceptive and powerful perimeter shot overshadowed her fierce and reliable defense.  She is what competitive greatness is defined as, scoring a countless number of goals during the biggest of moments.  Courtney’s last four years have been riddled with injuries but she persevered, continuing to display her mental toughness by training, leading, and delivering like she always has.”

19. Rachel Fatal – attacker, Los Alamitos High School and UCLA (4x 1st team All-American, 3x Olympian, 2x gold medalist, 5x FINA world champion).

Fatal scored 220 goals during her four years at UCLA and has scored 25 goals in the Olympics.  Adam Krikorian, Fatal’s coach on the 2016, 2021, and 2024 Olympic teams, speaking with USA Water Polo’s Greg Mescall in 2015:  “I’ll never forget the first day Rachel trained with us.  It was on a tough conditioning day one afternoon in Los Alamitos.  One of those that everyone dreads.  I think she was a senior in high school.  We had a very tenacious group that was full of veterans preparing for the Olympic Games, which can be so intimidating in its own right.  But she absolutely crushed the workout.  Her competitive spirit, work ethic, and athletic ability were so transparent.  I remember I left that practice and called a couple of my close colleagues and simply said, ‘She will be an Olympian.’”  Maggie Steffens, Fatal’s teammate on the 2016, 2021, and 2024 Olympic teams, speaking with an Associated Press reporter in June 2024:  “My family knows water polo very well and sees the little details and knows that the little details are what wins games.  The little details are what win championships and their favorite player is Rachel Fattal.”  If  Fatal continues playing, she is likely to play for the United States in the 2028 Olympics and could move up higher in my list.  However, she deserves a spot even if she doesn’t play another game.  Once Fatal’s playing career is over, she is likely to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

18. Annika Dries – center, Laguna Beach High School and Stanford (3x NCAA champion, 4x All-American, 2x 1st team All-American, 2x Cutino Award winner, 2x ACWPC player of the year, 1x Olympian, 1x gold medalist).

Photo Courtesy: Andrew Weber – USA Today Sports

Dries stepped down from the senior national team after the 2016 Olympics to pursue a career in medicine, graduating from Stanford’s medical school.  She should be in the Hall of Fame.  Stanford coach John Tanner speaking with a reporter before the NCAA tournament in 2014:  “I’ve seen (Annika) score goals with her head under water and two or three defenders around her.  She’ll be held under or she’s turned and gotten herself off balance.  All you see is a hand with a ball in it and it ends up in the goal.  She doesn’t get rattled.  Your heart rate at that position gets so high because you’re vertical all the time.  You’re wrestling constantly for position.  It’s really difficult to keep your composure while doing that.  So much of it is keeping a wide base.  You’ll get shoved or pulled.  She manages to keep her position with her great core strength and leg support.”  I asked Stanford associate head coach Susan Ortwein about Dries.  She said:  “What a dynamic, caring, and dominate player.  Annika was a center who could defend, our fastest swimmer, and an awesome shot blocker.  She was hard to guard because she excelled in so many phases of the game.”

17. Jackie Frank – goalie, Los Alamitos High School and Stanford (1x NCAA champion, 4x All-American, 3x 1st team All-American, 1x Cutino Award winner, 2x ACWPC player of the year, 1x Olympian, 1x bronze medalist, 1x FINA world champion).

Frank, named the most outstanding player of the 2002 NCAA tournament, recorded the most saves in the 2004 Olympics.  She stepped down from the senior national team after the 2004 Olympics to pursue a career in medicine, graduating from the University of Hawaii’s medical school.  Frank should be in the Hall of Fame.  Stanford coach John Tanner speaking with a reporter in 2003:  “Jackie blocks shots she has no business touching.”  I asked Stanford associate head coach Susan Ortwein about Frank.  She said:  “Jackie was an intimidator in the goal.  She was always a step ahead, ready to make the next block or pass.  Because of her presence and positioning, shooters often second-guessed themselves, which was a win for us.  Jackie was an exceptional goalie who thrived in a competitive atmosphere.”  Guy Baker, Frank’s coach on the 2004 Olympic team, told me:  “Jackie can be the forgotten goalkeeper in the great lineage of USA goalkeepers.  She emerged on the international scene in leading Team USA to a silver medal at the 2002 World Cup.  Jackie was the best goalkeeper in the world at the 2003 World Championships, leading Team USA to their first World Championship gold medal.  At the 2004 Olympic Games, Jackie led all goalkeepers with 41 saves.  Team USA (allowed) an average of just 5.4 goals per game.”

16. Natalie Golda Benson – center defender, Rosary High School and UCLA (4x NCAA champion, 3x All-American, 2x 1st team All-American, 1x Cutino Award winner, 1x ACWPC player of the year, 2x Olympian, 1x silver medalist, 1x bronze medalist, 2x FINA world champion, Hall of Fame).

Benson, a great high school softball player, chose to play water polo instead of softball at UCLA.  Former UCLA coach Adam Krikorian speaking with a reporter from The Daily Bruin in 2004:  “Natalie’s work ethic, fear of failure and competitiveness drew me to her.  I could see the raw talent, especially in her arm.  She has that unbelievable strength and deadly accuracy.”  More from Krikorian in 2008:  “Natalie is someone that didn’t make the junior national team when she was coming up and really couldn’t even make any of the swim sets that we were doing when she started here.  Now she’s one of the best players in the world.”  Guy Baker, Benson’s coach on the 2004 and 2008 Olympic teams, speaking with a reporter from The Daily Bruin after Benson was selected for the 2004 Olympic team:  “She’s the strongest player in the world.  She’s a tremendous player and with each year she’s gaining more experience and the little subtleties that have enabled her to have success.”  More from Baker:  “Natalie (went from being) a role player on the 2004 Olympic Team to one of the best players in the world at the 2008 Olympic Games.  During my time as coach no player improved more than Natalie.  Her tireless quest to improve was inspirational.”

15. Lauren Wenger – 6’3” center defender/center, Long Beach Wilson High School and USC (1x NCAA champion, 3x All-American, 1x 1st team All-American, 1x Cutino Award winner, 2x Olympian, 1x gold medalist, 1x silver medalist, 2x FINA world champion, Hall of Fame).

Wenger was the USA Water Polo female athlete of the year in 2007 and the MVP of the 2007 FINA World Championships.  She played professionally for Olympiacos and Glyfada in Greece and Ekipe Orizzonte in Italy.  I asked Doug Peabody, coach at The Bishop’s School and the San Diego Shores Water Polo Club, about Wenger.  He said:  “She was an intimidating force.  She could rip the ball from outside.  You didn’t want to set at 2M against her.”  Guy Baker, Wenger’s coach on the 2008 Olympic team, told me:  “Lauren was one of the best all-around players to play for Team USA and in the world.  Lauren was an outstanding counter-attack player, could play center defender and center, was a prolific outside shooter, and was a power-play perimeter and post player.”

14. Ellen Estes – center, Novato High School and Stanford (1x NCAA champion, 4x All-American, 2x 1st team All-American, 2x Olympian, 1x silver medalist, 1x bronze medalist, 1x FINA world champion, Hall of Fame).

Estes scored 214 goals during her four years at Stanford.  Guy Baker, Estes’ coach on the 2000 and 2004 Olympic teams, told me that Estes was a “fierce competitor” and the best center in the world in 2004.  I asked Stanford associate head coach Susan Ortwein about Estes.  She said:  “Ellen was a fierce competitor!  She was relentless and it didn’t matter whether she was in the pool or classroom, she was all-in.  She was able to get great position at set, use leverage to tool just about every defender, and make the goal seem small with her shot-blocking skills.”

13. Robin Beauregard – center defender, Marina High School and UCLA (3x NCAA champion, 1x unofficial national collegiate champion, 4x All-American, 3x 1st team All-American, 2x Olympian, 1x silver medalist, 1x bronze medalist, 1x FINA world champion, Hall of Fame).

Beauregard was named the most outstanding player of the 2003 NCAA tournament. Guy Baker, Beauregard’s coach on the 2000 and 2004 Olympic teams, speaking with USA Water Polo after Beauregard was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011:  “(Robin’s) biggest strength was her intelligence.  She had a tremendous water polo IQ.”  Heather Petri, Beauregard’s teammate on the 2000 and 2004 Olympic teams, speaking with USA Water Polo after Beauregard was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011:  “By far one of the best center defenders to ever play the game.  She could push anyone around the pool.”  Adam Krikorian, Beauregard’s coach at UCLA, speaking with USA Water Polo after Beauregard was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011:  “I believe she is the best 2M defender to ever play the game.  The most dominant.  They were scared to death to set against her.”

12. Betsey Armstrong – 6’1” goalie, Ann Arbor High School and Michigan (4x All-American, 2x Olympian, 1x gold medalist, 1x silver medalist, 2x FINA world champion, Hall of Fame).

Armstrong is one of two individuals on my list who graduated from high school in a state other than California.  She recorded the most saves in the 2008 Olympics.  Armstrong played professionally for Firenze in Italy for one year.  I asked Guy Baker, Armstrong’s coach on the 2008 Olympic team, about Armstrong.  He said:  “Betsy joined the National Team in May 2006. By March 2007 she was leading Team USA to a gold medal at the 2007 World Championships.  Betsey’s improvement in less than a year’s time was dramatic and significant.  Her emergence as one of the best goalkeepers in the world was (critical to) Team USA reclaiming the gold medal at the 2007 World Championships.”  Adam Krikorian, Armstrong’s coach on the 2012 Olympic team, speaking with a reporter after Armstrong was named FINA’s top female water polo athlete for 2010:  “Betsey had a phenomenal year, she’s the leader of our defense, and in my opinion the best goalie in the world.What makes her as good as she is are all those things people don’t see.  She has a great work ethic, stays humble, and displays excellent leadership.  I think she would be the first person to say that an award like this is truly a reflection on our well-balanced team, and that team-first attitude is just another reason why she is such an important part of our program.”  Krikorian speaking with a reporter in 2014 after Armstrong announced her retirement from the senior national team:  “It’s hard to put into words what Betsey has meant to this program over the last eight years.  More than being the most decorated goalie in our sports history, she’s been a loyal and unselfish teammate, a tireless professional in her approach, and a great ambassador for athletes from the Midwest and the state of Michigan.”

11. Coralie Simmons – attacker, Hemet High School and UCLA (1x NCAA champion, 3x unofficial national collegiate champion, 4x 1st team All-American, 1x Cutino Award winner, 2x ACWPC player of the year, 1x Olympian, 1x silver medalist, Hall of Fame).

Simmons, an exceptional athlete, set California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section records in the 100-yard freestyle and 100-yard breaststroke in 1995.  She is UCLA’s third all-time leading scorer with 235 goals on just 336 shots.  She scored 9 goals in the 2000 Olympics, tied for the most on the team.  Simmons played professionally in Greece for five years, winning three Greek Championships and one European Cup.  Hall of Fame player Kelly Rulon speaking with a reporter from The Daily Bruin after breaking Simmons’ UCLA scoring record in May 2007:  “I didn’t come here to break any records.  Coralie was my role‑model when I was growing up.  So breaking her record is a big honor.”  Senior national team coach Adam Krikorian speaking with USA Water Polo after Simmons was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2023:  “Coralie was one of the most phenomenal athletes you’ll ever see; one of the most intense competitors you’ll ever meet in any sport.”  Cat von Schwarz Arroyo, one of Simmons’ teammates on the senior national team, speaking with USA Water Polo after Simmons was inducted into the Hall of  Fame in 2023:  “Coralie was ahead of her time as far as how she moved in the water and how she saw the game.”

In Part III of this Article, I will discuss the individuals I have ranked Nos. 1 to 10 in my unofficial list of the Top-25 American women’s water polo players of the NCAA era.