Olympic Champion Alys Williams Set To Be Honored Before USA-China On April 22

Irvine, CA – April 18 – On April 22, prior to an exhibition match between the USA Water Polo Women's National Team and China at Long Beach City College, Olympic champion Alys Williams will be honored upon her retirement from international water polo. The match is the middle of a three-game series between the two teams before the start of play at the Olympic Games this summer in Paris, France.

The match between USA and China at Long Beach City College is set for 6pm PT and will stream LIVE on Overnght. The two teams will also meet on April 20 at Long Beach City College, at 7pm PT, and on April 27 at Torrance Aquatics Center in Torrance, California, at 6pm PT. The other two matches will also stream live on Overnght. Live stats will be available for all matches via 6-8 Sports.

Tickets for the contest at Long Beach City College are available here.

Williams will celebrate an accomplished career in water polo. In college at UCLA, she helped the Bruins to back-to-back NCAA Finals in 2014-15 and again in 2017. Internationally, Williams competed for over eight years. She claimed an Olympic gold medal (2020), three World Championship titles (2015, 2017, 2019), two World Cup championships (2014, 2018), one Pan American Games gold (2019), and six World League Super Final titles (2014, 2016-19, 2021). Williams is also the first USA woman to be the final cut from a prior Olympic Women's Water Polo Team (2016), only to come back and make the roster at the following Olympic Games (2020). 

"Being part of the Women's Senior National Team for 8.5 years has meant more to me than I will be able to explain in a few sentences. I honestly don't even know where to begin. All the people I was lucky enough to meet and work with throughout this process have given me opportunity after opportunity to grow as not only an athlete, but as a person. I joined the National Team as a sophomore in college with narrow minded goals, and zero clue how influential this team would be in my life. My teammates, coaches, and other staff pushed me beyond limits I thought were possible, and I will forever be grateful for them. What stands out most while looking back isn't the wins and losses, or the teams made and not made, but the relationships formed day to day both at Los Alamitos [Training Center] and while traveling around the world. The girls I got to play with throughout the two quads I was a part of will be in my life forever," Williams said.

"I can't talk about my experience on the National Team without thanking all the people who got me here. Thank you to my club coaches at Newport and HB, my high school coaches, college coaches, and ODP/National Team pipeline coaches. Most importantly, thank you to my parents for every practice you drove me to, every encouraging message, every late night meal made after tournaments, and every time you flew across the world to support me and my team. I definitely would not be here without you.

"While I may be retiring from my playing days, I still have so much love for the sport and can't wait to continue to be involved in any way I can. Go Team USA!" concluded Williams.
 
"Undoubtedly, one of the most selfless teammates we have ever had, her journey within the program is a lesson in perseverance and purpose.  After the personal disappointment of 2016, Alys re-committed herself both physically and mentally to become one of the best defenders in the world.  Her transformation helped to build a consistent presence in training and was ironically, someone we leaned on heavily to provide us with the courage necessary for the biggest of moments," said Adam Krikorian, Women's Senior National Team Head Coach.
 
Team rosters for the series will be available closer to the start of competition.

About USA Water Polo
USA Water Polo, Inc., is the national governing body for water polo in America, overseeing our United States Olympic program as well as 20 championship events annually, such as Junior Olympics and Masters National Championships. With nearly 50,000 members, USAWP also is the sanctioning authority for more than 500 Member Clubs and more than 400 tournaments nationwide. USAWP is committed to the development of the sport throughout the U.S. It fosters grass-roots expansion of the sport, providing a national system of affiliated clubs, certified coaches, and officials.