IRVINE, Calif. – Melissa Seidemann was announced Monday as one of five members of the 2025 USA Water Polo Hall of Fame class.
The organization’s 41st class includes five honorees representing international athletic excellence as well as gifted coaches and referees who have dedicated their lives to water polo.
One of the most versatile players in women's water polo history, Seidemann quickly emerged as a world-class talent – and a nightmare for opponents – thanks to her incomparable skills as a center, lockdown defensive play at two meters and deceptive touch scoring from the perimeter.
After graduating from College Park High School in Northern California in 2008, the East Bay native helped Stanford launch a dominant run that has continued for much of the past 15 years. After helping the Cardinal win the 2011 NCAA title, Seidemann claimed the 2013 Peter J. Cutino Award as the best player in the college game.
As an undergraduate, Seidemann also became a fixture on the USA women's national team, making her senior national team debut in 2010 and writing history in 2012 by helping Team USA win its first Olympic gold medal in women's water polo.
Seidemann was also part of the next two gold-medal runs, in 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo, and became only the second female water polo player in history to win three Olympic golds. That's in addition to claiming three World Championship gold medals, three World Cup crowns, three Pan American Games golds, and 10 World League titles.
On the club scene, Seidemann got her start in water polo with the Devil Mountain Water Polo Club. After reaching the elite level, she competed abroad for the likes of CN Sabadell and was a fixture back home for the New York Athletic Club for many years.
Seidemann retired after the Tokyo Olympics, but the Stanford Hall of Famer has stayed close to the game as both a club coach and high school coach in Orange County.
Joining Seidemann is Jesse Smith, a five-time Olympian and 2008 silver medalist. The class also includes coaching greats Denny Harper and Ricardo Azevedo who, together, represent more than 1,000 wins and have demonstrated major impacts at the collegiate, club and international levels. Finally, David Alberstein joins the Hall in the midst of his 60-year journey in water polo, officiating matches and striving to improve the refereeing experience for all.
The Hall of Fame induction luncheon is scheduled for June 13 at the Doubletree by Hilton Brea North Orange County in Brea, California.