Team USA will win the medal-haul race, both gold and overall, in Rio says the Wall Street Journal. And it will do so largely based on the excellence of its female stars, including the dominant world-champion water polo squad.
That dominance is fueled by a joyous team ethos admired throughout the water polo community and which piqued the interest of the USA men’s national team in particular, says Olympic veteran John Mann:
“Any time you have a great team you should watch,” Mann said. The U.S. women, led by former world player of the year Maggie Steffens, plays a remarkably selfless style, Mann said. Few teams, male or female, are better at playing a counter-attacking defense, or covering for one another in transition.“That’s something we’re working hard on.” – Wall Street Journal
The US women begin their Olympic tournament on August 9 versus European power Spain. The men will attempt to improve on their 8th place finish at the London games with their opener against Croatia on August 6.
