History made as IOC confirm women's Olympic water polo tournament to expand to 12 teams

Water Polo New Zealand is ecstatic to learn that women’s water polo will achieve full gender parity at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games with the expansion of the women’s tournament to 12 teams. This historic decision, made by the International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board, marks a monumental step forward for women’s sport, ensuring that the women’s competition will be on equal footing with the men’s for the first time in Olympic history.

World Aquatics President Husain Al Musallam applauded the news, saying:

“This is an historic achievement for women's water polo. Expanding the Olympic tournament to 12 teams not only ensures gender parity but also reflects the sport’s remarkable growth and global reach. We look forward to an incredible competition in Los Angeles.”

This achievement is especially significant for us here in New Zealand. As our national women’s head coach, Angie Winstanley-Smith, puts it:

“This is a game changer for women’s water polo in New Zealand. We were effectively the 11th-ranked team for Paris—just two goals shy of Olympic qualification. This will hopefully inspire not only our current squad members but also the next generation to keep pushing, keep believing. What a moment for women’s sport—another step towards the equality that our female athletes, coaches, and officials truly deserve."

New Zealand has never competed in water polo at an Olympic Games. This announcement gives our athletes and coaches a renewed sense of possibility and a tangible target to work towards. 

This historic decision represents not only a victory for the global water polo community but also a defining moment for women’s sports in New Zealand. With the increased number of Olympic spots, we remain more motivated than ever to strive for excellence on the international stage and to inspire future generations of women to pursue their dreams.