Stanford’s formidable defense fueled a powerful second-half performance to overcome No. 3 USC 11-7 on Sunday, clinching the 2025 NCAA Championship.
As the only program to have competed in every NCAA Championship since its inception in 2001, Stanford captured its 10th overall title and third in the last four years. The Cardinal’s previous championships came in 2023, 2022, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011, and 2002.
Stanford (25-1, 5-1 MPSF), the most successful program in collegiate water polo history, capped off a dominant season. In addition to recording just the fourth 15-0 start in school history, the Cardinal secured three victories each over top rivals USC and UCLA while holding the nation’s top ranking for the majority of the year. This marks the fourth time Stanford has won both the NCAA and MPSF titles in the same season, previously achieving the feat in 2023, 2022, and 2014.
The championship also extended Stanford Athletics’ historic streak, with the program now earning at least one NCAA team title every year for 49 consecutive seasons, dating back to 1976-77. The Cardinal remains the nation’s leader in NCAA team championships with a total of 137.
Juliette Dhalluin led Stanford’s offense with a hat trick, one of four Cardinal players with multiple goals, contributing to the team’s streak of scoring at least 10 goals in every game this season.
Christine Carpenter was named MVP of the All-Tournament Team, recording nine saves and spearheading a defensive effort that limited USC to just one second-half goal, including a scoreless stretch of 14:23.
Stanford and USC, two powerhouses in women’s water polo, have now claimed 14 of the last 15 NCAA titles, continuing their intense rivalry. Sunday’s final was tightly contested in the beginning, with USC (29-5, 5-1 MPSF) jumping out to a 3-1 lead in the first period, positioning themselves as a rare team capable of reaching double digits against Stanford’s defense.
Stanford stayed close in the second period, with Dhalluin’s crucial offensive plays keeping the Cardinal in the game. She scored with 52 seconds left to tie it at 5-5, and after a quick USC response, Dhalluin answered again just before halftime.’
Dhalluin completed her hat trick early in the third quarter, giving Stanford a lead they wouldn’t surrender. Serena Browne added two consecutive goals to start the fourth quarter, extending the advantage to 9-6.
USC ended its scoring drought with under two minutes left, cutting the deficit to 9-7, but Kamryn Barone and Jenna Flynn sealed the victory with late goals.
Stanford Goals:
- Juliette Dhalluin (3)
- Kamryn Barone (2)
- Serena Browne (2)
- Jenna Flynn (2)
- Ryann Neushul (1)
- Jewel Roemer (1)
All-Tournament Team (MVP): Christine Carpenter (Stanford)
All-Tournament Team (First Team):
- Ryann Neushul (Stanford)
- Jenna Flynn (Stanford)
- Emma Lineback (UCLA)
- Tilly Kearns (USC)
- Rachel Gazzaniga (USC)
- Bernadette Doyle (Hawai’i)
- Christine Carpenter (Stanford)
All-Tournament Team (Second Team):
- Ava Stryker (USC)
- Anna Pearson (UCLA)
- Jordan Wedderburn (Hawai’i)
- Eszter Varro (California)
- Ruby Hodge (Harvard)
- Ruth Arino Ariz (Loyola Marymount)
- Anna Reed (USC)
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