Paris Olympics: Jenna Flynn Scores Four as U.S. Women’s Water Polo Opens with Win
Jenna Flynn scored four times as the U.S. women’s water polo team began its defense of gold at the Paris Olympics with a 15-6 win over Greece.
The U.S. led 9-2 at half and never looked back. It used 11 saves over three quarters from Ashleigh Johnson to hold Greece to just 6-for-32 (19 percent) shooting and a paltry 3-for-12 (25 percent) on power plays.
Flynn led the Americans with four goals on 4-for-6 shooting. Maggie Steffens scored twice to go with three assists. Tara Prentice and Jovana Sekulic scored twice apiece, and Kaleigh Gilchrist scored with her only shot to go with three helpers.
Eleftheria Plevritou led Greece with a goal and an assist.
Greece is back in the Olympics for the first time since 2008. It finished fourth at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha in 2024.
Also on Saturday, the opening day of competition, the Netherlands edged Hungary, 10-8, in the opening game, a matchup of the 2023 World Champions and the 2024 Worlds silver medalist. The former scored twice in the final minute, a Lola Moolhuijzen goal putting the Dutch up for good with 40 seconds left in a game that was tied at 6 after three quarters.
Bente Rogge led the Dutch with three goals. Simone van de Kraats ran the offense with two goals and three assists.
Vanda Valyi paced the Hungarians with three goals. Dorottya Szilagyi added two goals.
Spain, the silver medalist in Tokyo, shot 50 percent from the field in routing France, 15-6. Elena Ruiz led the scoring parade with four goals. Isabel Piralkova tallied a hat trick. Judith Forca didn’t get in on the scoring but dished five assists.
Juliette Dhalluin led France with three goals.
Abby Andrews’ hat trick paced Australia to a 7-5 win over China in the nightcap. She added an assist. Alice Williams added two goals and one assist. Gabriella Palm turned aside five shots.
Wenxin Dong made 10 saves to keep China in touch. Huan Wang scored twice.