Cal's women's water polo team has secured its fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament berth, entering as the No. 4 seed with a 14-7 record. The tournament will take place from April 28-30 at UC San Diego, where the Bears will face Hawai'i in the quarterfinals. Under head coach Coralie Simmons, the team looks to build on a fourth-place finish at the MPSF Tournament, aiming for their first NCAA title since reaching the final in 2024. This season, standout players include MPSF Newcomer of the Year Despoina Drakotou and veteran Abbi Magee, with both contributing significantly to the team鈥檚 strong performance.

By the Numbers
  • Cal has been selected to the NCAA Tournament eight times in the nine years under head coach Coralie Simmons.
  • The Bears have a 12-13 record in 11 all-time NCAA tournament appearances.
State of Play
  • Cal enters the tournament as the No. 4 seed and will compete against Hawai'i in the quarterfinals.
  • The team is coming off a 14-7 season, with only losses to the top three ranked teams in the nation.
What's Next

The NCAA Tournament will begin with the quarterfinals on April 26, followed by semifinals on April 27, and the championship game set for April 28. Cal aims to improve its historical standing and potentially contend for its first NCAA title.

Bottom Line

Cal women's water polo seeks to leverage its strong season and experienced roster as they head into the NCAA Tournament, with high hopes of advancing past previous finishes and capturing their first championship title.