The U.S. women’s water polo team suffered its first loss since April 2018, ending a believed-to-be record 69-game win streak on Thursday.
Australia beat the U.S. 10-9 in the second game of a three-game series in Brisbane. Australian captain Rowie Webster netted the game-winner on a penalty shot with 30 seconds left.
The U.S.’ last loss, on April 2, 2018, was also to Australia.
The Americans are 153-5 dating to December 2015, not dropping a game at an Olympics, World Championship, World Cup or a World League Super Final in that span.
Adam Krikorian has been head coach since 2009 with a bevy of talent at his disposal. The most prominent is Maggie Steffens, a member of every title team in the 2010s at the Olympics, worlds, World Cup and World League.
Come Tokyo, the U.S. hopes to become the third nation to win three straight Olympic water polo titles, joining the Hungarian men (2000-08) and British men (1900-20). Women’s water polo debuted at the Olympics in 2000.
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