Greece has won its second medal at the World Women’s Water Polo Championships, marking its first medal in 14 years. Once again, it is gold, just as it was in Shanghai in 2011. In the final of the 2025 World Championships held in Singapore, Greece decisively defeated Hungary, controlling the match from the first whistle to the final buzzer.
In the bronze-medal game, Spain narrowly defeated Team USA 13:12. The final standings placed the Netherlands in 5th place, Australia in 6th, Italy in 7th, and Japan in 8th.
Bea Ortiz, Elena Ruiz, Anni Espar of Spain (Photo by Albert ten Hove/MTB-Photo)
Road to medals
- Crossover round (July 17): Italy– China 13:11, New Zealand– Netherlands 9:14, Greece– France 23:9, Japan– Great Britain 23:10.
- Quarterfinals (July 19): Australia– Greece 7:8, USA– Japan 26:8, Hungary– Italy 12:9, Spain – Netherlands 15:13 (PSO).
- Semifinals (July 21): Greece – USA 14:10, Hungary – Spain 15:9.
- Final Day (July 23) – final: Greece – Hungary 12:9, bronze-medal match: USA – Spain 12:13.
Final standings: 1, 2. 3. Spain, 4. USA, 5. Netherlands, 6. Australia, 7. Italy, 8. Japan, 9. China, 10. New Zealand, 11. Great Britain, 12. France, 13. Croatia, 14. Argentina, 15. South Africa, 16. Singapore.
Rita Keszthelyi (Hungary) was voted the MVP of the Championships. Foteini Tricha (Greece) is the best scorer (25 goals). Her teammate Ioanna Stamatopoulou received an award for the best goalkeeper of the tournament, while Eleni Xenaki was picked as the best player of the final.
Rita Keszthelyi of Hungary, Vasiliki Plevritou of Greece during the final (Photo by Albert ten Hove/MTB-Photo)
2025 World Women’s Water Polo Championships, Day 7
F FINAL
Greece – Hungary 12:9 (3:1, 5:3, 2:2, 2:3)
Greece: Tricha 3, Xenaki 3, Santa 2, M. Plevritou 2, E. Plevritou 1, Myriokefalitaki 1.
Hungary: Tiba 2, Hajdu 2, Szilagyi 1, Valyi 1, Keszthely 1, Leimeter 1, Rybanska 1
The first major derby in the women’s tournament in Singapore featured a matchup between Greece and Hungary. Twelve days ago, Hungary narrowly defeated Greece 10:9 in the first round of Group C. In a rematch during the final, the Greeks turned the tables. They controlled the pace of the game throughout and secured a quite convincing victory.
Team of Greece celebrates (Photo by Albert ten Hove/MTB-Photo)
Greece earned a 3:1 lead primarily due to its strong defense, which was the key to victory. The Greeks scored two goals from penalty shots and one with an extra player in the first quarter. They committed their first personal foul only 21 seconds before the first break and defended their net with a woman down. They forced Hungary to shoot from outside, but it didn’t work.
The second quarter followed a similar pattern. Hungary had more chances with an extra player, but didn’t convert them. Greece streched the margin to 5:1. Vanda Valyi ended Hungary’s almost 10-minute goalless phase, scoring from a counterattack (2:5). The teams traded goals in the final two minutes of the first half. There were even five goals in less than 100 seconds. But, the Greeks had the last word in this quarter. Nine seconds before the middle break, they earned a penalty hot. Myriokefalitaki sent the ball into the net from the 5m line to make it 8:4. Greece had a huge advantage before the following 16 minutes.
Vasiliki Plevritou of Greece during final Photo by Albert ten Hove/MTB-Photo
Early in the third quarter, Margarita Plevritou made it 9:4. But, in the following minutes, the Greeks lost their rhythm in the attack. Midway through the quarter, Hungary reduced the gap to three with quick goals from Rita Keszthelyi and Dorota Szilagyi. In the very last second, Stefania Santa forced an exclusion eight meters from the Hungarian goal. Immediately, she scored from a distance and Greece regained a four-goal lead before the final period (10:6).
Hungary had a 6 on 5 opportunity in its first possession in the fourth quarter. Stamatopoulou saved a shot from Garda, allowing her team to start a counterattack that was successfully finished by Stefania Santa – 11:6. Stamatopoulou was one of the heroes of the final with 16 saves. A minute later, Tricha made it 12:6, also from a counterattack, and the contest was practically over. Hungary scored the last three goals in the final, but wasn’t close to catching up with the Greeks.
Eirini Ninou of Greece and Stefania Santa of Greece celebrate (Photo by Albert ten Hove/MTB-Photo)
BM Bronze medal match
USA – Spain 12:13 (2:4, 2:3, 5:4, 3:2)
USA: Lineback 5, Ausmus 3, Neushul 2, Roemer 2.
Spain: Espar 4, Ortiz 2, Crespi 1, A. Ruiz 1, Rodriguez 1, Moreno 1, Camus 1, Penalver 1, Leiton 1.
The bronze medal match featured teams that had both previously won gold medals at major competitions in 2024. The reigning Olympic champion, Spain, defeated the 2024 World Champion, Team USA, to secure their … medal at the World Championships.
Spain got off to a strong start, which set them on the path to victory. After establishing an early three-goal lead, the Americans were unable to catch up, despite narrowing the gap several times.
Spain took a 1:0 and 2:1 lead in the first quarter. The Americans leveled on both occasions, but after their second goal, the crucial period of the game started. Just 20 seconds later, Ardiana Ruiz gave the Spaniards a 3:2 lead. In their next possession, Paula Prats doubled the advantage with a woman up. The Europeans maintained the momentum and forced another exclusion in their first attack in the second half. Paula Leiton scored from a 6 on 5 to make it 5:2. From that point on, Spain was always in front, but the game was open until the very end.
Elena Ruiz Photo by Albert ten Hove/MTB-Photo
At halftime, Spain was three steps ahead of the rival – 7:4. They extended the margin to four in the third period (10:6 and 11:7). However, Team USA, primarily thanks to a powerplay goal, came very close to the rival. They cut their deficit to 10:11 and 11:12 in the fourth period. Spain responded with a goal both times. But, the Europeans had no answer after Lineback converted a 6 on 5 to make it 12:13 with 81 seconds left on the clock. Fifty seconds before the end, Team USA started an attack in which it chased an equalizer. However, the Spaniards marked the American best players. Team USA lost the ball with 21 seconds left and the game was decided.
In many matches, a conversion of 6 on 5 shots makes a difference. This wasn’t one of those games. Spain had fewer opportunities to score with an extra player and their shot percentage was 4 out of 7. Team USA had a very good conversion, but it wasn’t enough for a win and a medal.
5 5th place match
Australia – Netherlands 11:13 (2:2, 2:3, 4:4, 3:4)
Australia: Williams 3, Ballesty 2, Halligan 2, C. Andrews 2, Green 1, Jackovich 1
Netherlands: Bosveld 3, Sevenich 2,L. Rogge 2, B.Rogge 1, Keuning 1, Joustra 1, Schaap 1, De Vries 1, Gorter 1.
Both Australia and the Netherlands arrived in Singapore with the goal of winning a medal. Ultimately, the Dutch team had to settle for 5th place, while the Australians secured 6th.
The match for 5th place was a closely contested affair. The Dutch made a pivotal difference in the middle of the game, showcasing two 3:0 runs during the 2nd and 3rd periods. Although Australia managed to equalize on a few occasions, the Dutch team maintained control of the result.
After a balanced first quarter, Australia was the first to establish a 2-goal lead. In the 11th minute, Green scored during a power play to make it 4:2. However, the Dutch quickly responded with three power play goals within three minutes, taking the lead at 5:4.
Tilly Kearns of Australia, Marit van der Weijden of the Netherlands Photo by Albert ten Hove/MTB-Photo)
Australia leveled at 5:5 and 6:6 in the third period, but a strong response from the Netherlands resulted in a 3:0 series within two minutes and 13 seconds, and the Europeans went to 9:6 late in the third period. However, Australia didn’t surrender. It scored two goals in the last minute of the third and trailed 8:9 before the final eight minutes. The „Stingers“ didn’t stop there and leveled at 9:9 and 10:10. Lieke Rogge made it 11:10 with an extra player, Sevenich added a goal from the centre-forward position to make it 12:10 in the 29th minute.
The Australians’ last hope was a goal from Aby Andrews in the 31st minute for 11:12. The Netherlands wasted a man-up in its following possession and Australia got a chance to level the score. However, the Europeans’ goalkeeper Britt van den Dobbelsteen saved a shot from Danijela Jackovich. Joustra set the final score with 16 seconds left on the clock with a goal that was confirmed only after a long VAR review for a possible violent foul.
7 7th place match
Japan – Italy 15:20 (5:5, 2:5, 2:6, 6:4)
Japan: Fukuda 3, Kobayashi 2, Arima 2, Inaba 2, Ura 2, Kawaguchi 2, Shitara 1, Sunabe 1.
Italy: Cergol 5, Cocchiere 5, Bianconi 4, Giustini 3, Gant 2, Bettini 1.
Italy finished in 7th place, just as it had at the previous championships. Japan, which had already achieved a historic result by reaching the quarterfinals, couldn’t make a step further.
Italy’s excellent start determined the rest of the match. Japan was coming back from time to time, but the Italians controlled the game.
The „Setterosa“ (Seven roses) started furiously, establishing a 4:0 lead in the first three minutes. In the fourth minute, Cocchiere made it 5:0. However, by the end of the first quarter, the Japanese responded in the same way – with five unanswered goals. Just three seconds before the first break, Ura leveled at 5:5.
Lucrezia Cergol )Italy) (Photo by Albert ten Hove/MTB-Photo)
Lucezia Cergol gave Italy a 6:5 lead early in the second quarter. Cergol had a perfect percentage of shts today, as well as Agnese Cocchiere. Each scored five goals from as many attempts. Japan leveled once more – 6:6. The Asians were keeping up with the Europeans for almost the entire second quarter. In the final minute of the first half, they trailed 7:8. However, the Italians netted twice in the last 57 seconds of the 2nd quarter and headed into the second half with a 10:7 advantage.
Japan scored an opening goal in the second half. Still, the Italians still dictated the pace. They answered with a 4:0 run, jumped to 14:8 and Japan couldn’t come back into the match anymore.
All medalists
1986: 1. Australia, 2. Netherlands, 3. USA
1991: 1. Netherlands, 2. Canada, 3. USA
1994: 1. Hungary, 2. Netherlands, 3. Italy
1998: 1. Italy, 2. Netherlands, 3. Australia
2001: 1. Italy, 2. Hungary, 3. Canada
2003: 1. USA, 2. Italy, 3. Russia
2005: 1. Hungary, 2. USA, 3. Canada
2007: 1. USA, 2. Australia, 3. Russia
2009: 1. USA, 2. Canada, 3. Russia
2011: 1. Greece, 2. China, 3. Russia
2013: 1. Spain, 2. Australia, 3. Hungary
2015: 1. USA, 2. Netherlands, 3. Italy
2017: 1. USA, 2. Spain, 3. Russia
2019: 1. USA, 2. Spain, 3. Australia
2022: 1. USA, 2. Hungary, 3. Netherlands
2023: 1. Netherlands, 2. Spain, 3. Italy
2024: 1. USA, 2.Hungary, 3. Spain
2025: 1. Greece, 2. Hungary, 3. Spain
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