U.S. Women's Water Polo Loses Semifinal Game, Will Play for Bronze as Maggie Steffens Says They've 'Been Through a Lot'

Mar. 15, 2025

Maggie Steffens in Paris on July 25.Photo:STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP via Getty Images

STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP via Getty Images

The U.S. women’s water polo team has faced its fair share of adversity in recent months — but they’re not letting their heartbreakingOlympicsloss get them down.

After a nail-biting semifinal game on Thursday, Aug. 8, that saw Australia come from behind then ultimately win in a dramatic shootout, Team USA lost out on the chance to win a gold medal for the fourth Olympics in a row.

Still, captainMaggie Steffensand attackerMaddie Musselmanare keeping their eyes on the prize amid personal heartbreak off the field.

“[We’re] obviously bummed. [It’s] not the result we wanted, but we gotta come back, reflect, grow and just be better in two days. We can rebound,” Steffens told reporters, including PEOPLE, after the match. “We’ve been through a lot, especially this squad. And I’m excited to show the resilience and just try to be better for next game."

Maddie Musselman at the semifinal match on Aug. 8 in Paris.Adam Pretty/Getty Images

Adam Pretty/Getty Images

Steffens, 31, the only player on the team to have been a member of all three gold medal-winning squads since 2012, certainly has not had this Olympics go the way she planned.

“Unfortunately there’s been a lot of adversity outside of water that we faced, and I just think that we’ve been through a lot and done a great job of being there for one another,” she said on Thursday. “This team is amazing. There’s so much passion, so much love, so much camaraderie, and I’m excited to fight for them one more time.”

Musselman, 26, had a similar sentiment speaking with reporters after the loss to Australia, saying that while the end result was “heartbreaking,” she still had hopes that the team could “end on a high” with a bronze medal.

Maggie Steffens celebrates a goal on Aug. 8 in Paris.Adam Pretty/Getty Images

“I’ve been through a lot outside of sport right now, so it’s been easy to have that perspective for myself,” she said, referring to her positive attitude heading into Saturday’s match. “It might be hard for some other people on my team. But life is precious for me right now. And so for me, a loss right now is obviously hard, but [I’m] moving forward.”

Musselman shared Woepse’s diagnosis in an interview withNBC Los Angelesin late July, saying that they’d made a wedding come together in just four days after learning he only had months to live.

Woepse, 30, made the trek to Paris to watch his wife compete, and has been on the sidelines cheering her on.

source: people.com