2002 NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship

The 2002 NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship was the second annual tournament to determine the national championship of NCAA women's collegiate water polo. The single elimination tournament was played at the McDonald's Olympic Swim Stadium in Los Angeles, California from May 11–12, 2002.

2002 NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship

Tournament details
Dates	May 11–12, 2002
Teams	4
Final positions
Champions	Stanford (1st title)
Runner-up	UCLA (2nd title game)
Third place	Loyola Marymount
Fourth place	Michigan
Tournament statistics
Matches played	3
Goals scored	51 (17 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)	Brenda Villa, Stanford (5)
Best player	Jackie Frank, Stanford

Stanford, in a rematch of the previous year's final, defeated UCLA in the final, 8–4, to win their first NCAA championship. The Cardinal (23–2) were coached by John Tanner.

The leading scorer for the tournament was Brenda Villa, from Stanford, with 5 goals. Stanford's Jackie Frank was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

First and second All Tournament Teams were also named, each consisting of seven players.

Qualification

Since there has only ever been one single national championship for women's water polo, all NCAA women's water polo programs (whether from Division I, Division II, or Division III) were eligible. A total of 4 teams were invited to contest this championship.

Team	Appearance	Previous
Loyola Marymount	2nd	2001
Michigan	1st	Never
Stanford	2nd	2001
UCLA	2nd	2001

Tournament bracket

• Site: McDonald's Olympic Swim Stadium, Los Angeles, California

	Semifinals May 11, 2002					Championship May 12, 2002
	Stanford		13
	Michigan		3
						Stanford		8
						UCLA		4
	UCLA		11
	Loyola Marymount		2			Third Place May 11, 2002
						Michigan		4
						Loyola Marymount		6

All tournament teams

First Team

• Jackie Frank, Stanford (Most Outstanding Player)
• Kelly Heuchan, UCLA
• Ellen Estes, Stanford
• Robin Beauregard, UCLA
• Brenda Villa, Stanford
• Lucy Windes, Loyola Marymount
• Natalie Golda, UCLA
• Amber Stachowski, UCLA

Second Team

• Betsey Armstrong, Michigan
• Thalia Munro, UCLA
• Julie Gardner, Stanford
• Teresa Guidi, Loyola Marymount
• Wendy Watkins, Stanford
• Jamie Hipp, UCLA
• Jen Crisman, Michigan
• Margie Dingeldein, Stanford

See also

• Pre-NCAA Intercollegiate Women's Water Polo Champions (pre-2001)
• NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship