List of world champions in women's water polo

This is a list of world champions in women's water polo since the inaugural official edition in 1986.

History
The 1986 Women's World Water Polo Championship was the first edition of the women's water polo tournament at the World Aquatics Championships, organized by the world governing body in aquatics, the FINA.

As of 2024, women's water polo teams from seven countries won all 17 tournaments.

United States is current world champion and the most successful country in women's water polo tournament at the World Aquatics Championships, with eight gold medals.

Hungary, Italy and Netherlands have won two World titles each in women's water polo tournament.


 * Legend


 * – Debut
 * – Champion
 * – Winning streak (winning three or more world championships in a row)
 * – Hosts

Age records
The following tables show the oldest and youngest female world champions in water polo.


 * Legend
 * – Host team

Multiple gold medalists
The following tables are pre-sorted by date of receiving the last gold medal (in ascending order), date of receiving the first gold medal (in ascending order), name of the player (in ascending order), respectively.

There are three female athletes who won five gold medals in water polo at the World Aquatics Championships.


 * Legend
 * * – Host team

There are three female athletes who won four gold medals in water polo at the World Aquatics Championships.


 * Legend
 * * – Host team

There are eight female athletes who won three gold medals in water polo at the World Aquatics Championships.


 * Legend
 * * – Host team

There are twenty six female athletes who won two gold medals in water polo at the World Aquatics Championships.


 * Legend
 * * – Host team

World champion families
The following tables are pre-sorted by date of receiving the gold medal (in ascending order), name of the player (in ascending order), respectively.


 * Legend
 * * – Host team

Most successful coaches
The following table is pre-sorted by number of gold medals (in descending order), date of winning the last gold medal (in ascending order), name of the coach (in ascending order), respectively.

There are three coaches who led women's national water polo teams to win two or more gold medals at the World Aquatics Championships.

American Adam Krikorian led the United States women's national team to win six gold medals at the World Aquatics Championships. His compatriot Guy Baker guided the United States women's national team to two gold medals in 2003 and 2007.

Italian Pierluigi Formiconi coached the Italy women's national team to two consecutive gold medals at the World Aquatics Championships in 1998 and 2001.


 * Legend
 * * – Host team

Champions as coach and player


The following table is pre-sorted by number of gold medals (in descending order), date of winning the last gold medal (in ascending order), name of the person (in ascending order), respectively.

Only one water polo player won a gold medal at the World Aquatics Championships and then guided a women's national water polo team to the world title as a head coach.

Tamás Faragó of Hungary won a gold medal at the 1973 World Aquatics Championships. Thirty-two years later, he coached the Hungary women's national team to the world title in 2005.


 * Legend
 * * – Host team

2019 (United States, 6th title)

 * Edition of women's tournament: 14th
 * Host city: 🇰🇷 Gwangju, South Korea
 * Number of participating teams: 16
 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches
 * Champion: (6th title; 1st place in preliminary A group)

Source: Official Results Books (PDF): 2019 (Women's Competition Schedule, Women's Round Summary).


 * Head coach: 🇺🇸 Adam Krikorian (4th title as head coach)
 * Assistant coach: 🇺🇸 Daniel Klatt

Note: Aria Fischer and Makenzie Fischer are sisters.

Sources:
 * Official Results Books (PDF): 2019 (Team Roster – United States);
 * ISHOF.


 * Abbreviation


 * MP – Matches played
 * Min – Minutes
 * G – Goals
 * Sh – Shots
 * TF – Turnover fouls
 * ST – Steals
 * RB – Rebounds
 * BL – Blocked shots
 * SP – Sprints
 * 20S – 20 seconds exclusion
 * DE – Double exclusion
 * Pen – Penalty
 * EX – Exclusion

Source: Official Results Books (PDF): 2019 (Cumulative Statistics – United States, p. 3).

2017 (United States, 5th title)

 * Edition of women's tournament: 13th
 * Host city: 🇭🇺 Budapest, Hungary
 * Number of participating teams: 16
 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches
 * Champion: (5th title; 1st place in preliminary B group)

Source: Official Results Books (PDF): 2017 (Women's Competition Schedule, Women's Round Summary).


 * Head coach: 🇺🇸 Adam Krikorian (3rd title as head coach)
 * Assistant coaches: 🇺🇸 Chris Oeding, 🇺🇸 Ethan Damato

Note: Aria Fischer and Makenzie Fischer are sisters.

Sources:
 * Official Results Books (PDF): 2017 (Team Roster – United States);
 * ISHOF.


 * Abbreviation


 * MP – Matches played
 * Min – Minutes
 * G – Goals
 * Sh – Shots
 * AS – Assists
 * TF – Turnover fouls
 * ST – Steals
 * BL – Blocked shots
 * SP – Sprints
 * 20S – 20 seconds exclusion
 * DE – Double exclusion
 * Pen – Penalty
 * EX – Exclusion

Source: Official Results Books (PDF): 2017 (Cumulative Statistics – United States, p. 3).

2015 (United States, 4th title)

 * Edition of women's tournament: 12th
 * Host city: 🇷🇺 Kazan, Russia
 * Number of participating teams: 16
 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches
 * Champion: (4th title; 2nd place in preliminary C group)

Source: Official Results Books (PDF): 2015 (Women's Competition Schedule, Women's Round Summary).


 * Head coach: 🇺🇸 Adam Krikorian (4th title as head coach)
 * Assistant coaches: 🇺🇸 Daniel Klatt, 🇺🇸 Chris Oeding

Sources:
 * Official Results Books (PDF): 2015 (Team Roster – United States);
 * ISHOF.


 * Abbreviation


 * MP – Matches played
 * Min – Minutes
 * G – Goals
 * Sh – Shots
 * AS – Assists
 * TF – Turnover fouls
 * ST – Steals
 * RB – Rebounds
 * BL – Blocked shots
 * SP – Sprints
 * 20S – 20 seconds exclusion
 * DE – Double exclusion
 * Pen – Penalty
 * EX – Exclusion

Source: Official Results Books (PDF): 2015 (Cumulative Statistics – United States, p. 2).

2013 (Spain, 1st title)



 * Edition of women's tournament: 11th
 * Host city: 🇪🇸 Barcelona, Spain
 * Number of participating teams: 16
 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches
 * Champion: (1st title; 2nd place in preliminary A group)

Source: Official Results Books (PDF): 2013 (Women's Competition Schedule, Women's Round Summary).




 * Head coach: 🇪🇸 Miki Oca (1st title as head coach)
 * Assistant coach: 🇪🇸 Claudio Cardarona

Sources:
 * Official Results Books (PDF): 2013 (Team Roster – Spain);
 * ISHOF: "Honorees by Country".


 * Abbreviation


 * MP – Matches played
 * Min – Minutes
 * G – Goals
 * Sh – Shots
 * AS – Assists
 * TF – Turnover fouls
 * ST – Steals
 * BL – Blocked shots
 * SP – Sprints
 * 20S – 20 seconds exclusion
 * DE – Double exclusion
 * Pen – Penalty
 * EX – Exclusion

Source: Official Results Books (PDF): 2013 (Cumulative Statistics – Spain, p. 2).

2011 (Greece, 1st title)

 * Edition of women's tournament: 10th
 * Host city: 🇨🇳 Shanghai, China
 * Number of participating teams: 16
 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches
 * Champion: (1st title; place in preliminary C group)

Source: Official Results Books (PDF): 2011 (Women's Competition Schedule, Women's Round Summary).




 * Head coach: Giorgos Morfesis (1st title as head coach)

Sources:
 * Official Results Books (PDF): 2011 (Team Roster – Greece);
 * ISHOF: "Honorees by Country".


 * Abbreviation


 * MP – Matches played
 * Min – Minutes
 * G – Goals
 * Sh – Shots
 * AS – Assists
 * TF – Turnover fouls
 * ST – Steals
 * BL – Blocked shots
 * SP – Sprints
 * 20S – 20 seconds exclusion
 * Pen – Penalty
 * EX – Exclusion

Source: Official Results Books (PDF): 2011 (Cumulative Statistics – Greece, p. 3).

2009 (United States, 3rd title)

 * Edition of women's tournament: 9th
 * Host city: 🇮🇹 Rome, Italy
 * Number of participating teams: 16
 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches
 * Champion: (3rd title; 2nd place in preliminary B group)

Source: Official Results Books (PDF): 2009 (Women's Competition Schedule, Women's Round Summary).




 * Head coach: 🇺🇸 Adam Krikorian (1st title as head coach)
 * Assistant coach: 🇺🇸 Brandon Brooks

Sources:
 * Official Results Books (PDF): 2009 (Team Roster – United States);
 * ISHOF: "Honorees by Country".


 * Abbreviation


 * MP – Matches played
 * Min – Minutes
 * G – Goals
 * Sh – Shots
 * AS – Assists
 * TF – Turnover fouls
 * ST – Steals
 * BL – Blocked shots
 * SP – Sprints
 * 20S – 20 seconds exclusion
 * Pen – Penalty
 * EX – Exclusion

Source: Official Results Books (PDF): 2009 (Cumulative Statistics – United States, p. 2).

2007 (United States, 2nd title)

 * Edition of women's tournament: 8th
 * Host city: 🇦🇺 Melbourne, Australia
 * Number of participating teams: 16
 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches
 * Champion: (2nd title; 1st place in preliminary C group)

Source: Official Results Books (PDF): 2007 (Women's Round Summary).


 * Head coach: 🇺🇸 Guy Baker (2nd title as head coach)
 * Assistant coach: 🇺🇸 Heather Moody

Sources:
 * Official Results Books (PDF): 2007 (Start Lists – United States: match 05, match 11, match 20, match 37, match 44, match 48);
 * ISHOF: "Honorees by Country".


 * Abbreviation


 * MP – Matches played
 * Min – Minutes
 * G – Goals
 * Sh – Shots
 * AS – Assists
 * TF – Turnover fouls
 * ST – Steals
 * BL – Blocked shots
 * SP – Sprints
 * 20S – 20 seconds exclusion
 * Pen – Penalty
 * EX – Exclusion

Source: Official Results Books (PDF): 2007 (Results – United States: match 05, match 11, match 20, match 37, match 44, match 48).

2005 (Hungary, 2nd title)

 * Edition of women's tournament: 7th
 * Host city: 🇨🇦 Montreal, Canada
 * Number of participating teams: 16
 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches
 * Champion: (2nd title; 1st place in preliminary B group)

Sources:
 * Official Reports (FINA) (PDF): "World Championship" (p. 57);
 * Todor66: "2005 World Championship (women's tournament)".


 * Head coach: 🇭🇺 Tamás Faragó (1st title as head coach)
 * Assistant coach: 🇭🇺 Mátyás Petrovics

Sources:
 * Official Reports (FINA) (PDF): "World Champions–Team Line-up" (p. 57);
 * Olympedia: "Olympians Who Won a Medal at the World Aquatics Championships";
 * ISHOF: "Honorees by Country".

2003 (United States, 1st title)

 * Edition of women's tournament: 6th
 * Host city: 🇪🇸 Barcelona, Spain
 * Number of participating teams: 16
 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches
 * Champion: (1st title; 1st place in preliminary C group)

Sources:
 * Official Reports (FINA) (PDF): "World Championship" (p. 57);
 * Todor66: "2003 World Championship (women's tournament)".


 * Head coach: 🇺🇸 Guy Baker (1st title as head coach)

Sources:
 * Official Reports (FINA) (PDF): "World Champions–Team Line-up" (p. 57);
 * Olympedia: "Olympians Who Won a Medal at the World Aquatics Championships";
 * ISHOF: "Honorees by Country".

2001 (Italy, 2nd title)

 * Edition of women's tournament: 5th
 * Host city: 🇯🇵 Fukuoka, Japan
 * Number of participating teams: 12
 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches
 * Champion: (2nd title; 3rd place in preliminary A group)

Sources:
 * Official Reports (FINA) (PDF): "World Championship" (p. 57);
 * Todor66: "2001 World Championship (women's tournament)".


 * Head coach: 🇮🇹 Pierluigi Formiconi (2nd title as head coach)

Sources:
 * Official Reports (FINA) (PDF): "World Champions–Team Line-up" (p. 57);
 * Olympedia: "Olympians Who Won a Medal at the World Aquatics Championships";
 * ISHOF: "Honorees by Country".

1998 (Italy, 1st title)

 * Edition of women's tournament: 4th
 * Host city: 🇦🇺 Perth, Australia
 * Number of participating teams: 12
 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches
 * Champion: (1st title; 4th place in preliminary B group)

Sources:
 * Official Reports (FINA) (PDF): "World Championship" (p. 57);
 * Todor66: "1998 World Championship (women's tournament)".


 * Head coach: 🇮🇹 Pierluigi Formiconi (1st title as head coach)

Sources:
 * Official Reports (FINA) (PDF): "World Champions–Team Line-up" (p. 57);
 * Olympedia: "Olympians Who Won a Medal at the World Aquatics Championships";
 * ISHOF: "Honorees by Country".

1994 (Hungary, 1st title)

 * Edition of women's tournament: 3rd
 * Host city: 🇮🇹 Rome, Italy
 * Number of participating teams: 12
 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches
 * Champion: (1st title; 2nd place in preliminary A group)

Sources:
 * Official Reports (FINA) (PDF): "World Championship" (p. 57);
 * Todor66: "1994 World Championship (women's tournament)".

Head coach: 🇭🇺 Gyula Tóth (1st title as head coach)

Sources:
 * Official Reports (FINA) (PDF): "World Champions–Team Line-up" (p. 57);
 * Olympedia: "Olympians Who Won a Medal at the World Aquatics Championships";
 * ISHOF: "Honorees by Country".

1991 (Netherlands, 1st title)

 * Edition of women's tournament: 2nd
 * Host city: 🇦🇺 Perth, Australia
 * Number of participating teams: 9
 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches
 * Champion: (1st title; 1st place in preliminary A group)

Sources:
 * Official Reports (FINA) (PDF): "World Championship" (p. 57);
 * Todor66: "1991 World Championship (women's tournament)".


 * Head coach: Peter van den Biggelaar (1st title as head coach)

Sources:
 * Official Reports (FINA) (PDF): "World Champions–Team Line-up" (p. 57);
 * Olympedia: "Olympians Who Won a Medal at the World Aquatics Championships";
 * ISHOF: "Honorees by Country".

1986 (Australia, 1st title)

 * Edition of women's tournament: 1st
 * Host city: 🇪🇸 Madrid, Spain
 * Number of participating teams: 9
 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to the round-robin final pool
 * Champion: (1st title; 1st place in preliminary B group)

Sources:
 * Official Reports (FINA) (PDF): "World Championship" (p. 57);
 * Todor66: "1986 World Championship (women's tournament)".

Head coach: 🇦🇺

Sources:
 * Official Reports (FINA) (PDF): "World Champions–Team Line-up" (p. 57);
 * Olympedia: "Olympians Who Won a Medal at the World Aquatics Championships";
 * ISHOF: "Honorees by Country".