Spain’s Nona Perez has been named European Aquatics Women’s Water Polo Athlete of the Year for 2025, receiving 32.8% of the overall vote after an outstanding season at both club and international level.
The 22-year-old played a pivotal role in Sant Andreu’s historic Champions League triumph, helping the Spanish club secure their first continental title during the Final Four in Athens. Perez delivered a standout performance in the final against defending champions Astralpool CN Sabadell, scoring a decisive hat-trick to lead her team to victory.
“It’s such an honour to receive this award, and I have to thank all my team-mates at Sant Andreu and Spain,” Perez told European Aquatics. “We achieved a lot together, and we want to keep building on that success.”
Perez also carried her strong form onto the international stage, consistently contributing to Spain’s bronze-medal-winning team at the World Championships in Singapore, where she impressed with her impact at both ends of the pool and heavy minutes throughout the tournament.
With this recognition, Perez becomes the seventh Spanish player to win the award, following Anni Espar, Jennifer Pareja, Maria Garcia, Laura Ester, Bea Ortiz and Judith Forca.
Greece’s Foteini Tricha finished second with 26.4% of the vote, after a standout year that included World Cup and World Championships gold, as well as finishing as top scorer at the latter event. Hungary’s Rita Keszthelyi placed third with 21.8%, having been named Most Valuable Player at the World Championships, where Hungary claimed silver.
Greece captain Eleftheria Plevritou finished fourth (9.5%), while compatriot Ioanna Stamatopoulou, who was named the 2025 World Aquatics Championships’ Best Goalkeeper, rounded out the top five with 9.4%.