NCAA Top Seed Path Unveiled

STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford (14-1, 5-1 MPSF) has been awarded the No. 1 seed for the upcoming NCAA Championship, scheduled for April 24-26 at the Canyonview Aquatic Center on the campus of UC San Diego in La Jolla, California.

Extending its streak as the nation’s only program to have participated in all 25 NCAA Championships since the event’s inception in 2001, defending NCAA champion Stanford is chasing its 11th crown in school history and fourth in the past five seasons.

The NCAA Championship field features nine teams, with the top seven having been placed directly in the bracket and the remaining two teams competing for the final berth in the single-elimination tournament.

Stanford’s postseason path begins Friday, April 24, against the winner of Concordia (20-9, 7-1 WWPA) and Wagner (15-12, 6-2 MAAC).

Juliette Dhalluin matched a career high with six goals while Jenna Flynn added four as Stanford rallied past USC 16-14 yesterday in the final of the MPSF Championship. Stanford claimed its ninth MPSF title and fourth in the past five seasons after repeating in 2022-23 and winning it all in 2025. There have also been four seasons in which the Cardinal has won both the MPSF and NCAA titles (2014, 2022, 2023, 2025).

Stanford and USC have combined to win 14 of the last 15 NCAA titles and Sunday’s latest installment of the sport’s best rivalry was another thriller. Trailing 12-10 entering the final quarter, Stanford ripped off four consecutive goals to take control while its defense smothered USC over the final eight minutes.

Stanford has enjoyed yet another dominant season in 2026, ranked No. 1 in the country for most of the season. The Cardinal, which owns three wins over UCLA and two against California, captured the Barbara Kalbus Invitational back in February. The Cardinal has scored at least 15 goals in nine games while boasting at least 10 different goal scorers in five contests.

Jenna Flynn (47 goals, 25 assists, 91 shots, 13 multi-goal games, 10 hat tricks) and Juliette Dhalluin (46 goals, 29 assists, 74 shots, 14 multi-goal games, 9 hat tricks) have been pacing the offense, combining for three MPSF/Delfina Player of the Week honors so far this season.

Stanford has captured at least one NCAA team championship for 49 consecutive years, a streak that dates back to the 1976-77 campaign. The nation’s all-time leader in NCAA team championships (137), Stanford’s championship dominance and longevity is more impressive when compared to its peers. Consider this: the country’s next longest active NCAA title streak belongs to North Carolina - with 7. 

Women's water polo has contributed 10 NCAA team titles during the streak, winning it all in 2025, 2023, 2022, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011 and 2002. The Cardinal single-handedly extended the department's streak in 2013-14, as the only NCAA team champion that season.