Stanford Cardinal are the highest ranked team heading into the new season in the United States, according to the 2023 Women’s Varsity National Top 25 Preseason Poll.
The poll, which is released on a weekly basis throughout the season, is compiled from votes from coaches in the eight major conferences across the country.
While a team’s ranking doesn’t mean much in actual play, it does give us a good idea of who will likely be the favourite in some matches.
It’s hardly a surprise that John Tanner’s Cardinal, who lifted their eighth NCAA title last season, are at the summit of the poll, with a squad that features Aria Fischer, Ryann Neushul Jewel Roemer and Jenna Flynn. Stanford begins their season in late January at the Cal Cup.
The USC Trojans are in second place, followed by the UCLA Bruins and the Cal Bears, who are tied for third in the CPWA poll.
UC Irvine, Hawaii Wahine, both of the Big West Conference, are ranked sixth and seventh, respectively, while the Michigan Wolverines (7) are the only team from the CWPA conference inside the top-ten.
The top 10 also includes Fresno State, Long Beach, and Arizona State. Irvine, Hawaii, Michigan, Fresno, Long Beach and Arizona all start the 2023 campaign on the same ranking as they ended the 2022 season.
What’s on this weekend?
Even though there are a lot of games happening on this opening weekend of the women’s season, there are a few that may be worth keeping an eye on.
The season opener for the Cal Bears features a matchup with East Bay in Berkeley. Even though the fourth-ranked squad should have no trouble defeating the opponents, it will still be exciting to see Coralie Simmons’ squad take to the pool for the first time this season.
In addition, several matches will be played at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex in Honolulu between Hawaii, San Jose, and Loyola Marymount.
Meanwhile, Arizona State is weighing its options for a few games, the most important of which would be against the Michigan Wolverines.
Read more about water polo in the USA
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
