Australia’s next generation of women’s water polo talent is set to take on the world, with the Aussie U18 Women preparing to begin their campaign at the World Aquatics Women’s U18 Water Polo World Championships in Puerto de la Cruz, Spain.
Running from 16-23 August, the tournament will see Australia’s rising stars test themselves against the world’s best young water polo nations, with many of the squad stepping up to the U18 stage with valuable international experience already under their belt.
With that experience behind them, Head Coach Fabio Pavanello said the team has built strongly together.
“We have had a valuable preparation over the last six months in particular, with our squad meeting over several camps to ensure we are prepared as a close group together,” Pavanello said.
“We look forward to showcasing our team’s capabilities on the world stage.
“Many players in our group have experience playing together internationally. Australia placed third at World Aquatics in U16s in 2024 in Turkey.
“We embrace the opportunity to challenge the world’s best in Spain at this U18 championships and believe we have the capability to perform as a team and to challenge the best in the world in water polo.”
The Championships provide an important opportunity for the athletes to gain experience on the international stage and continue their development along the national pathway, with Pavanello seeing the tournament as a key step towards future senior representation.
“This championship is a critical step in the progress of our young female athletes to ensure opportunities to continue to develop and prove themselves on the world water polo stage,” he said.
“There is no doubt that many players in this Australian team will become future Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers who can compete at the highest level, including Olympic water polo.
“We’re also really motivated by what the Aussie Stingers achieved with their Olympic silver medal in Paris 2024. They showed us what’s possible for Australian women’s water polo, and we’d love to follow in their footsteps and continue building on that legacy.
“We haven’t had the chance to test ourselves internationally at this level for the past two years, so this tournament is a great opportunity to showcase where we sit amongst the world’s best.
“For us, a successful campaign is about challenging the top teams from Europe and the Americas and giving ourselves the chance to compete deep into the tournament.”
Queenslander Ali McCarthy said representing Australia at a World Championships is an opportunity she is incredibly proud of.
“It means so much. Representing Australia is something I take great pride in and something I’ve been so fortunate to be able to do,” McCarthy said.
“Going to World Champs is so exciting and I can’t wait to see what it has in store for us, and I’m most excited to have all the world’s best players come together and compete at the highest level.
“Our goals for the tournament are to play well as a team, be dominant in the water and hopefully bring home some hardware.”
For Amelie Hoefel, representing Australia carries a special significance, with water polo forming part of her family from an early age.
“It means everything. Since I was a baby, I grew up watching my grandfather, father and uncle play water polo. I love my country and take great pride in wearing our nation’s colours to represent in the sport I love and am passionate about. It is a great honour,” Hoefel said.
“I am looking forward to playing with my team against the best from around the world. I am also excited to meet new people in and out of the pool, it is not often you get such a mix of cultures coming together with the same passion of water polo.”
Australian Fixtures
Match 1
Australia v Brazil
Date: Sunday 16 August 2026
Time (Spain): 1:30pm
Time (AEST): 10:30pm
Match 2
Australia v Serbia
Date: Tuesday 18 August 202
Time (Spain): 10:30am
Time (AEST): 7:30pm
Remaining fixtures: To be confirmed based on tournament results.
Australian Women’s U18 Team
Ali McCarthy (Polo Bears/Thunder, QLD)
Abigail Oates (Sydney Uni, NSW)
Alannah Paul (SNB/Drummoyne, NSW)
Amelie Hoefel (Mermaids/Thunder, QLD)
Bless Daly (Polo Bears, QLD)
Caroline Healy (Collegians/Phoenix, VIC)
Claudia Booth (Polo Bears/Thunder, QLD)
Emmersen McEwen (Polo Bears/Thunder, QLD)
Evelyn O’Neill (Balmain, NSW)
Isabelle O’Connor (Mermaids, QLD)
Kiera Mironova (Sydney Uni, NSW)
Sara Connors (UQ/Thunder, QLD)
Sienna Walker (Melville, WA)
Zara Cooke (SNB, NSW)
Reserves
Emily Broadbent (Balmain, NSW)
Harlei Kricak (SNB, NSW)
Lucy Burchard (Richmond/Phoenix, VIC)
Lucy Stuart (Mermaids, QLD)
Australia’s full schedule, results and updates will be available throughout the tournament here.
