Canadian Olympic Women’s Water Polo preview 2024

Like the Canadian Olympic women’s basketball team, the Canadian Olympic women’s water polo team squeaked into the Olympic tournament at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. There was a period of time where it looked like Canada would not qualify for the Olympic Games in women’s water polo at all.

At the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar, the seventh place game in the 16 team tournament had significant meaning. A win against Italy, and Canada would qualify for the Olympic Games. However, Canada lost the game 18-12, and it appeared at that time Canada would not be going to Paris. Not so fast. Just hours later, South Africa announced their intentions to withdraw as the African representative. Instead of awarding a spot to the next best African representative (there is no other African team ranked inside the top 20), Canada was awarded a spot as the highest ranked country that had not yet qualified for the Olympic Games (ranked eighth).

Canada is in Group A alongside Hungary, Australia, China and the Netherlands. They play Hungary at 12:05 PM MT on July 29, China at 7:35 AM MT on July 31, Australia at 6 AM MT on August 2, and the Netherlands at 10:30 AM MT on August 4. The top four teams in each group make the quarterfinals. A quarterfinal spot is a genuine possibility. Canada’s biggest game is against China.

The United States are the gold medal favourites. They have won the gold medal at the last three Olympic Games and are the reigning world champions. They are in Group B alongside France, Greece, Italy, and Spain.