Much more was at stake in the women’s water polo national championship than you may think. This wasn’t just another national championship; this game impacted the all time NCAA championship leaderboard. Heading into the championship matchup between UCLA and Stanford, the Bruins had won 113 NCAA championships as a program while Stanford had won 112.
With the clock winding down, Stanford’s Maggie Steffens fired a shot that clinched the victory for the Cardinal. Immediately, the Stanford women jumped into the pool celebrating the momentous championship. UCLA had been beaten, and Stanford now had tied the Bruins for the most all time NCAA championships.