NCAA Championship Journey Begins

STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford (14-1, 5-1 MPSF) has been awarded the No. 1 seed for this weekend's NCAA Championship, scheduled for April 24-26 in La Jolla, California. The Cardinal's postseason path begins in the first round on Friday at 12 p.m. against the winner of Concordia and Wagner.

• Extending its streak as the nation’s only program to have participated in all 25 NCAA Championships since the event’s inception in 2001, Stanford is chasing its 11th NCAA title in school history and fourth in the past five seasons. The Cardinal, which is bidding to repeat as NCAA champions for the fourth time, also captured NCAA championships in 2023, 2022, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011 and 2002.

• Juliette Dhalluin matched a career high with six goals while Jenna Flynn added four as Stanford rallied past USC 16-14 on April 12 in the final of the MPSF Championship. Stanford claimed its ninth MPSF title and fourth in the past five seasons. There have also been four seasons in which the Cardinal has won both the MPSF and NCAA titles (2014, 2022, 2023, 2025). Trailing 12-10 entering the final quarter, Stanford scored four consecutive goals while its defense smothered USC over the final eight minutes.

• Stanford's 14-1 record includes three wins over UCLA, with dominant late-game defensive performances a common theme. The most recent was a sudden-victory overtime win on April 11 in which Juliette Dhalluin converted the game-winning penalty shot. During a 10-9 road victory on March 7, Stanford limited UCLA to one goal over the final eight minutes and none in the final 4:56. Stanford's 8-7 victory on Feb. 15 came in the final of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational, as the Cardinal prevailed despite being held scoreless in the fourth quarter.

• Stanford was well represented with five All-MPSF selections, highlighted by Jenna Flynn earning a spot on the conference’s first team. In addition to Flynn, Christine Carpenter and Juliette Dhalluin were named to the second team, Ella Woodhead was tabbed an honorable mention pick and Lucy Haaland-Ford qualified for the all-newcomer team. The Cardinal was awarded at least five all-conference recipients for the seventh time over the last eight seasons. Additionally, Carpenter, Dhalluin and Flynn have all been named to the Peter J. Cutino Award Watch List, presented to the nation’s top player. Stanford has produced eight recipients combining to win the award 11 times.

• 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 paced the offense. Flynn's 175 career goals rank 12th in school history while Dhalluin is Stanford's seventh all-time MPSF Tournament MVP recipient, following up Christine Carpenter’s honor in 2025.

• Stanford has scored at least 15 goals in nine of its games, including a season-high output in a 23-11 win over Long Beach State back on Jan. 24. Elite depth has been a key part of the team's success, with the Cardinal boasting at least 10 different goal scorers in five contests.

• The Cardinal features four players with significant international experience. Jenna Flynn (United States), Juliette Dhalluin (France) and Serena Browne (Canada) represented their country at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. Last summer, the Cardinal added a fourth in Sienna Green (Australia), a 2024 Olympic silver medalist and All-American transfer from UCLA who totaled 50 goals in two seasons.

• Stanford’s already-decorated coaching staff also got even stronger this summer, with the most revered and accomplished player in the history of women’s water polo returning to The Farm. Joining the staff as associate head coach is Brenda Villa, one of only two four-time Olympic medalists (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012) who won 20 medals overall in her playing career representing Team USA. A three-time All-American and Hall of Famer who led the Cardinal to its first NCAA title in 2002, Villa became Stanford’s first Peter J. Cutino Award recipient and was later named the Female Water Polo Player of the Decade (2000-09) by FINA Aquatics World Magazine.