Dubrovnik, Croatia - August 31 - Team USA participated in the inaugural games of international 4x4 water polo today at the 2026 World Aquatics Water Polo 4x4 Open Championships in Dubrovnik, Croatia. The USA Men lost the first-ever game of 4x4 water polo against Russia 3-2 before the USA Women defeated Spain 3-0 later in the day. Stefan Vavic was the men's top scorer with four goals and Chris Whitelegge logged three saves in net. Jenna Flynn led the way for the women with three goals while Lauren Steele was sensational in the cage with ten saves. The USA Men will face Lithuania tomorrow at 2:30am pt before the USA Women play Turkey at 6:40am pt. The matches will stream live on World Aquatics YouTube channel with live stats available from Microplus Timing Services.
On the men's side, in the first-ever game of 4x4 water polo, Team USA earned a penalty and Max Irving scored the first goal of its kind from five meters. Russia answered quickly as both squads learned the new fast-paced format with no pauses between goals. The Russians scored twice more before Stefan Vavic got one back for the Americans. Another goal from Russia preceded another goal from Stefan Vavic but then time ran out in the first set. Russia went ahead 1-0 on the back of a 4-3 set victory.
In the second set, Irving put away the opening goal on a man advantage. Russia leveled from five meters but then Marko Vavic got involved with a powerful goal from set. The Russians kept up with their second before Irving gave the Americans the lead back and Stefan Vavic confirmed the 4-2 set victory to tie the overall score 1-1.
Russia struck first in the third set with back-to-back goals. Then, Jake Howerton responded for Team USA before another Russian score. Stefan Vavic scored to cut the deficit in half but Russia had an answer. AJ Rossman and Marko Vavic leveled the score with under one minute to play before a penalty with eight seconds left let Marko Vavic convert the set-winner from five meters. The 5-4 third set scoreline left the United States ahead 2-1 in sets.
The Russians went ahead to begin the fourth set and eventually went up five to extend the game into a penalty shootout with a 5-0 fourth set victory tying the game at 2-2.
Stefan Vavic and Carson Kranz scored in the shootout but it was not enough to capture the first-ever game of 4x4 water polo.
Team USA went 2/3 on power plays and 3/3 on penalties before the shootout while Russia went 2/3 on power plays and 1/5 on penalties before the shootout.
Scoring - Stats
USA 2 (3, 4, 5, 0, 2) S. Vavic 4, M. Irving 3, M. Vavic 3, J. Howerton 1, A. Rossman 1
RUS 3 (4, 2, 4, 5, 3) R. Usov 6, R. Shepelev 2, K. Sheikin 2, P. Fedotov 1, D. Pronin 1, S. Barabushka 1, I. Vasilev 1
Saves - USA - C. Whitelegge 3 - RUS - P. Fedotov 4
6x5 - USA - 2/3 - RUS - 2/3
Penalties - USA - 3/3 - RUS - 1/5
In the women's bracket, Spain scored quickly before Jewel Roemer scored the first goal for the American women from five meters. Spain answered back but Jordan Raney leveled the score and Jenna Flynn scored late to secure the set 3-2 and take a 1-0 lead.
Ryann Neushul earned a penalty and converted the chance to open the second set. Rachel Fattal pushed the lead to three with consecutive scores before Jenna Flynn confirmed a 4-0 second set and 2-0 lead at halftime.
The start of the third set saw Jenna Flynn score first and then Fattal earned a penalty which Roemer converted with ease. Spain was able to score once more but its final attempt to tie the game was saved by Steele as the United States claimed the set 2-1 and the match 3-0.
Team USA went 3/4 on power plays and 3/4 on penalties while Spain went 1/2 on power plays and no penalties attempted.
Scoring - Stats
USA 3 (3, 4, 2) J. Flynn 3, R. Fattal 2, J. Roemer 2, R. Neushul 1, J. Raney 1
ESP 0 (2, 0, 1) C. Penalver Granero 2, A. Munoz 1
Saves - USA - L. Steele 10 - ESP - M. Terre Marti 4
6x5 - USA - 3/4 - ESP - 1/2
Penalties - USA - 3/4 - ESP - 0/0
