# 2026 Women's College Season **URL:** \ **Category:** College - Women\ **Created:** [January 20, 2026, 12:21am UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/2026-womens-college-season/2127 "2026-01-20T00:21:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![swimcoach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@swimcoach](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/swimcoach)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 7:30pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/2026-womens-college-season/2127/21 "2026-02-05T19:30:19Z")
Disappointed to see only 8 teams this year. With the shortened season, I would have thought that the more teams the better. Personally, I would have like to have seen ASU, LMU, Indiana, UCSD, etc. there. It will still be a great tournament with the top 6 teams participating and 8 of the top 12. ---
**Author:** ![H20rosy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47774/32.png) [@H20rosy](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/H20rosy)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 3:59am UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/2026-womens-college-season/2127/23 "2026-02-11T03:59:38Z")
Marist beating Fresno is a big upset ![IMG_6547](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/uploads/waterpoloexchange/original/2X/f/f99c4be3945432b5864bc2e574d11a8199a8944e.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![swimcoach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@swimcoach](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/swimcoach)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 4:28pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/2026-womens-college-season/2127/24 "2026-02-11T16:28:27Z")
That is a really good win for Marist. I am sure that their West Coast road trips will pay dividends down the stretch. Before Sunday, I wonder when was the last time that beat a Top 10 team? ---
**Author:** ![cbarrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b782af/32.png) [@cbarrot](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/cbarrot)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 9:14pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/2026-womens-college-season/2127/25 "2026-02-11T21:14:49Z")
Tough tournament for UCI. Nobody can accuse them of dodging the ‘Big Dogs” after looking at the 7 teams they invited to their tournament.😬 ---
**Author:** ![BB70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c68b51/32.png) [@BB70](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/BB70)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 9:41pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/2026-womens-college-season/2127/26 "2026-02-11T21:41:08Z")
Only way to make them better…the programs that schedule low rank and unranked d1 and d3 schools dont nearly help themselves as compared to what UCI is doing. ---
**Author:** ![littlebitmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e99b99/32.png) [@littlebitmore](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/littlebitmore)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 2:57pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/2026-womens-college-season/2127/27 "2026-02-13T14:57:18Z")
Will the games be streamed? ---
**Author:** ![jeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@jeff](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/jeff)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 3:35pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/2026-womens-college-season/2127/28 "2026-02-13T15:35:07Z")
I hope I’m wrong but it doesn’t look like it. That’s a bad look for U.C. Irvine. Meanwhile, Sacred Heart Prep and Harvard-Westlake, among other high schools, have live-streamed their tournaments for years. ---
**Author:** ![playpolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@playpolo](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/playpolo)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 3:59pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/2026-womens-college-season/2127/29 "2026-02-13T15:59:54Z")
Hi, from what I understand, there is a UCI/Big West contract with ESPN that’s been in place for a few years. I don’t know when it expires, but that’s the road block. ---
**Author:** ![3xdefense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/8c91f0/32.png) [@3xdefense](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/3xdefense)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 4:09pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/2026-womens-college-season/2127/30 "2026-02-13T16:09:44Z")
As far as I know, this is correct. UCI does not have a revenue stream that affords the ESPN $2000 per game fee to stream for the tournament. The ESPN/Big West contract also does not allow them to use a less expensive option like overnght. ---
**Author:** ![jeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@jeff](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/jeff)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 5:36pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/2026-womens-college-season/2127/31 "2026-02-13T17:36:47Z")
Here are my predictions, often wrong, for the Barbara Kalbus Invitational: 1st round: Stanford over U.C. Irvine by a lot UCLA over Fresno State by a lot USC over LBSU by 4 or 5 Cal over Hawaii by 3. I believe Cal will be at full strength for the first time this season. Semifinals: Stanford over Cal by 3 or 4 UCLA over USC by 1 Consolation round: Hawaii over U.C. Irvine by 4 or more LBSU over Fresno State by 3 or 4 Finals: Stanford by 2 over UCLA. Stanford easily beat UCLA in an “exhibition” game earlier in the season. I expect this game to be much closer. 3rd place game: USC over Cal by 2 5th place game: Hawaii over LBSU by 2 7th place game U.C. Irvine over Fresno State by 1. This game could go either way. ---
**Author:** ![sacareawaterpolofan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/46a35a/32.png) [@sacareawaterpolofan](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/sacareawaterpolofan)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 5:42pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/2026-womens-college-season/2127/32 "2026-02-13T17:42:46Z")
other than eszter varro, was cal missing anyone else last weekend? ---
**Author:** ![jeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@jeff](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/jeff)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 6:15pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/2026-womens-college-season/2127/33 "2026-02-13T18:15:25Z")
I don’t think so. Eszter Varro missed Cal’s first seven games because she was playing for Hungary’s senior national team.. Jula Bonaguida and Maria Bogachenko missed three of Cal’s first seven games because Bonaguida was playing for the U.S. senior national team and Bogachenko was playing for Israel’s senior national team. Cal has a very good offensive team. I could see them beating UCLA or USC at least once this season. ---
**Author:** ![swimcoach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@swimcoach](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/swimcoach)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 8:26pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/2026-womens-college-season/2127/34 "2026-02-13T20:26:36Z")
That is too bad about UCI not being able to stream the games this weekend. Maybe UCSD had the same ESPN restrictions? Nevertheless, it is a shame that no one in Northern California will have a chance to see any games from the regular season’s best two tournaments unless they make the trip down South. At least there looks to be live stats on The FOSH for the games at UCI. I will go with the same first round picks as jeff, but I think that both USC and Cal will win their games by 5 goals. I will pick USC over UCLA by 1 in the one semi. UCLA usually plays their entire roster in this tournament and I think that USC will be at full strength for the first time this season. They seem to be very evenly matched teams, but I will go with USC this time around. I think that Stanford wins by 5 in the other game. Cal has a great offense, but I think that Stanford’s defense can keep them in check. I am not so sure about Cal’s defense. I will go with UCLA over Cal by 2 in the 3rd place game. This will be a really good test for UCLA’s defense. In the finals, I think that Stanford will beat USC by 4. Stanford’s shooters will pick apart USC’s defense. ---
**Author:** ![polofan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/848f3c/32.png) [@polofan](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/polofan)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2026, 3:58am UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/2026-womens-college-season/2127/35 "2026-02-14T03:58:23Z")
Doesn’t really cost $2k per game ? Where did that number come from ---
**Author:** ![polosurfer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc79bd/32.png) [@polosurfer](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/polosurfer)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2026, 4:20am UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/2026-womens-college-season/2127/36 "2026-02-15T04:20:54Z")
Barn burner game tonight at UCI tourney: UCLA comes back to beat USC and wins by one on a key 7-6 stop at the end of regulation. Great game, with Bia for UCLA having a game. ---
**Author:** ![OCPoloDad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c89c15/32.png) [@OCPoloDad](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/OCPoloDad)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2026, 10:54pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/2026-womens-college-season/2127/37 "2026-02-15T22:54:52Z")
Stanford 8 to 7 over UCLA. The tale of two halves. Stanford came out strong as their defense shut down UCLA both on the advantage and in the field. UCLA made adjustments at half which stifled Stanford’s offense the second half who only scored 2 goals. UCLA had twice as many opportunities on the advantage but couldn’t capitalize. ---
**Author:** ![3xdefense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/8c91f0/32.png) [@3xdefense](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/3xdefense)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2026, 11:56pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/2026-womens-college-season/2127/38 "2026-02-15T23:56:52Z")
Info directly from Coach Klatt ---
**Author:** ![swimcoach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@swimcoach](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/swimcoach)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 5:14pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/2026-womens-college-season/2127/39 "2026-02-16T17:14:57Z")
From your description of the 1st place game, it sounds like the UCLA and Stanford defenses are as good as advertised. Of course, it helps to have Steele and Carpenter in goal for your team. IMHO, they are, by far, the best two goalies in the NCAAs. Any other reports from Irvine? Judging from some of the box scores, it looks like there were some pretty good games out there. ---
**Author:** ![OCPoloDad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c89c15/32.png) [@OCPoloDad](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/OCPoloDad)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 6:38pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/2026-womens-college-season/2127/40 "2026-02-16T18:38:22Z")
I walked in on 2nd half of USC Cal game and USC was clearly in command. Cal made a run in Q4 but game was over in my opinion Stanford played without Green and Barone for most of the 4th. Center defenders incurred most all exclusions. Overall I believe it gave UCLA much confidence to play start to end and winning 2nd half. Plus, good experience for Stanford pressed to the last second pulling out a win with neutralized offense and key players on the bench. Yes, Carpenter and Steele are all that. Second half Steele made her presence known. ---
**Author:** ![GirlDad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@GirlDad](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/GirlDad)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 7:14pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/2026-womens-college-season/2127/41 "2026-02-16T19:14:46Z")
Jeff was spot on with his predictions for the top 4 teams. LBSU’s collapse against Fresno was a shocker, does anyone know what happened there? [Previous page](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/2026-womens-college-season/2127.md?page=1) [Next page](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/2026-womens-college-season/2127.md?page=3)