United States

United States have won three consecutive world titles in women's water polo (2015, 2017, 2019) and three successive Olympic gold medals in the sport (2012, 2016, 2020).

United States (6) is one of three countries to have won multiple world titles in women's water polo, alongside Italy (2) and Hungary (2).

United States have won 17 successive matches in the women's tournament at the world aquatics championships, since a 10-9 loss against Italy in the preliminary round in 2015.

United States have not lost a knockout phase match in the women's tournament at the world aquatics championships since a 9-6 defeat versus hosts Spain in the quarter-finals in 2013.


Spain

The most recent world or Olympic title in women's water polo not won by United States was victory for Spain at the world aquatics championships in 2013 in Barcelona (the only women's world title won by the host nation).

Spain finished as runners-up to United States in the women's tournament at the world aquatics championships in 2017 and 2019, and at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Of teams in the women's tournament at the 2022 FINA World Championships, Spain have not lost a match at the world aquatics championships to a team other than United States since 2011 (beaten by Greece and Hungary).


Other contenders

Netherlands finished on the podium at each of the first four editions of the world aquatics championships that featured women's water polo (G1-S3-B0), but the Dutch have achieved this at only one of the 10 editions since (silver in 2015).

Hungary finished fifth as hosts in the women's tournament at the world aquatics championships in 2017. The Hungarians won the world title in 1994 and 2005.

Italy won a medal in each of their first four appearances in the women's tournament at the world aquatics championships (G2-S1-B1, 1994-2003), but they have claimed only one podium finish in the eight editions since (bronze in 2015).

Greece finished on the podium in only one of their 11 appearances in the women's tournament at the world aquatics championships, but that was when they won the world title in 2011.

The five ever-presents in the women's tournament at the FINA World Championships are Australia, Canada, Hungary, Netherlands and United States (all five make it 15 out of 15 in Budapest). The only one of those five not to have won the world title is Canada (runners-up in 1991 and 2009).

South Africa lost 26 of their 29 matches in the women's tournament at the world aquatics championships (W2-D1-L26). The two wins were against Uzbekistan (2011) and Republic of Korea (2019).

Argentina, Colombia and Thailand make their debuts in the women's tournament at the FINA World Championships. Of those three, only Thailand has not competed in the men's tournament.