5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE WORLD AQUATICS WOMEN'S WATER POLO WORLD CUP

The World Aquatics Women’s Water Polo World Cup will get underway in Rotterdam, Netherlands as eight teams prepare to battle it out for the six positions on offer for the division one final in June. 

The Aussie Stingers squad have regrouped in Europe with some of the internationally based players coming back into the squad as they prepare for their 2023 World Cup campaign. 

Here are the top 5 things you need to know…

1. GROUP A DRAW 

Australia has drawn Group A and will face Hungary, Greece and hosts the Netherlands. 

12 April I 2:30am AEST I Australia vs Netherlands 

13 April I 4:30am AEST I Australia vs Hungary 

13 April I 10:00pm AEST I Australia vs Greece 

2. AUSSIE STINGERS 

The Aussie Stingers will be led by Captain and dual Olympian Zoe Arancini - with the team unveiled last month. 

3. THE COMPETITION 

Group A will produce some tough competition for the Aussies Stingers. 

Host nation, the Netherlands, has not contested the World Cup since last winning in 1999. With van der Sloot, van de Kraats, Sevenich, Iris Wolves and Lola Moolhuijzen among a strong line-up, as they look to least replicate 2022 results of third in Budapest and fourth in Split.

Greece last contested the World Cup in 2010, finishing seventh, but a silver medal from the European Championships, following seventh place at the FINA World Championships in Budapest, showed just how far this team can go. Greece bowed 9-6 to Spain in the Split final with Margarita Plevritou, Christina Siouti and Eleni Xenaki to the fore. They are playing in Rotterdam and will be ably assisted by Chrysoula Diamantopoulou and Eirini Ninou.

Hungary was fifth in 2014, but recent form suggests that history is not needed with stars like Keszthelyi, centre forward Rebecca Parkes, driver Dorottya Szilagyi, the refreshing Kata Hajdu, Greta Gurisatti and brilliant goalkeeper Alda Magyari all expected to perform.

4. HOW TO WATCH 

Watch all the matches live or on demand via World Aquatics YouTube. 

World Aquatics YouTube - click here 

Australia vs Netherlands - click here 

Australia vs Hungary - click here 

Australia vs Greece - click here

5. NEW LOOK COMPETITION 

The rebooted World Cup, normally a quadrennial event, has overtaken the former World League and will now be competed for annually. The World Cup was the premium women’s event from 1979 until the inaugural Olympic Games women’s competition in 2000. USA won the previous World Cup in 2018 and has four titles — including the last three — compared to Netherlands’ eight, garnered during the pre-Olympic era. Australia is third on the ladder with three titles. Netherlands has 12 podium finishes, Australia 11 and USA 10.