Based on the stats, which team is at the top of the World Aquatics Women’s Water Polo Power Rankings? 

Elite Eight | Power Ranking the Women's Water Polo Teams

Image Source: Francois Nel/Getty Images
  1. Netherlands
  2. Spain
  3. USA
  4. Greece
  5. Australia
  6. Hungary
  7. Italy
  8. Canada

There is no question - after reclaiming the World Champions title in Fukuoka, Japan 32 years after their first win, Team Netherlands never stopped for a moment. The Dutch kept working and perhaps even harder - as their recent European title proves. Their Euro win was a memorable one. With just six seconds left, Bente Rogge scored the winning goal in the final.

Led by the captain Sabrina van der Sloot, the Dutch could defend their World Cup title. But certainly, obviously, that will not be an easy task.

Image Source: Spain's Judith Forca Ariza shoots the ball by Pascalle Cassey of Team Australia (Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

There is little difference between the Dutch and Spanish teams, but Miguel Oca's team lost to the Dutch by penalty shoot-out in Fukuoka and by one goal in Eindhoven in the final. The Spaniards are in with a good chance of reaching the final and would certainly be looking for a rematch in Doha. Judith Forca’s and Beatriz Ortiz's shots have not been matched by many teams so far.

Image Source: USA's Amanda Longan in action at the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest (Gabriel Monnet/World Aquatics))

The new Team USA is getting better, they won the Pan American Games at the end of 2023. How young is that team? Six players were born in or after 2000 in the USA women's water polo team in Fukuoka. It's time to see that they are starting to work as a team, the new players have started to find their positions in the team. They easily won the Pan American Games, so they will arrive with the memory of the win to Doha.

Team Greece played very hard at the European Championships, and their third-place result was a ticket to Paris. However, they are not taking the World Aquatics Championship lightly and are going into the tournament fully armed. Their strength is their team unity, the “Greek phalanx” but they are not as balanced as Team Spain or the Netherlands.

Image Source: Australia's Bronte Halligan on attack at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (Harry How/Getty Images)

The Australians finished fourth in Fukuoka last year and sixth in Budapest. Bronte Halligan is always a safe point in the team, but it is the team unity that gives the Australians their strength.

The Hungarians are going for an Olympic quota in Doha. The European Championship did not go as planned with the new head coaches, but Greta Gurisatti has recovered from her injury and the Hungarians will start the Worlds with a full squad, led by the classy player, Rita Keszthelyi, neither opponent will have an easy task against the Magyars. 

Image Source: Italian Dafne Betti celebrates a scoring action during Women's Water Polo SF match between Italy and the Netherlands at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

The Italians just missed out the Olympic qualification place in Eindhoven. In Fukuoka, they showed that they are capable of a big surprise (beating the USA in the quarterfinals), but their bravura performances showcase the team’s exceptional agility and technicality. Unfortunately for the Italians, too often their standout actions are followed by avoidable mistakes.

Team Canada finished second to the USA at the Pan American Games, finishing seventh in Fukuoka, where they beat the Greeks by penalty shootout. There is a lot of potential in this team, the question is what they will be able to do in Doha.

There will be a serious battle in the women's field in each match, but who will be the winner?