.jpg)
Ottawa, August 19, 2025 - Water Polo Canada’s Women’s Junior (U20) National Team took the 13th position at the 2025 World Aquatics Women’s U20 Water Polo Championship held August 10-15 in Salvador, Brazil.
The Canadian team started their round robin in Group D with 12-8 and 9-4 losses against China and Australia, respectively, followed by a 14-8 win over South Africa.
Those results allowed Canada to play its next three round robin games against teams from Group E, which the team all won: 19-8 against Mexico, 12-4 against South Africa and, finally, 19-8 against Argentina to end the tournament.
“Obviously, this is not the result we wanted and came here for,” said Team Captain Pippa Heaver. “However, the grit, determination and love we have for another will carry far beyond the walls of this tournament. Each day, we learned things about each other and ourselves which helped us to continue to grow throughout the tournament and pushed each other to be better than the day before. I am excited to see where the future will take us.”
“This wasn’t the result we were aiming for at this tournament, and that’s tough to accept, especially knowing how much work this group has put in,” added Water Polo Canada’s 2025 Women’s U20 National Team Head Coach, Samuel Donoghue. “Unfortunately, with the format of the championship, our opening match against China became the most crucial, and we just didn’t quite have enough to come out on top.
“That said, I’m proud of how the team responded. Against Australia, we played a disciplined defensive game, holding them to seven goals before pulling our goalie late in the match to push for more offense. Through the classification rounds, the group continued to show character and delivered strong performances. This experience will serve them well moving forward. We’re not satisfied, but we’re motivated. This team has taken big steps, and I truly believe we’re laying the foundation for future success at the senior level.”
Lyle Brooks also attended the 2025 World Aquatics Women’s U20 Water Polo Championship as a referee, where he was selected to referee the gold medal game for the event.
Canadian Team at the 2025 World Aquatics Women’s U20 Water Polo Championship
BASU, Jaya Basu (Montreal, QC-CAMO)
BENJAMIN, Cianne (Toronto, ON-Shadow)
BLAZEVIC, Natalia (Vancouver BC-Pacific Storm)
BOBYK, Grace (Toronto, ON-Toronto Golden Jets)
FEATHERSTONE, Katherine (Calgary, AB-Calgary Renegades)
HEAVER, Pippa (Beaverton, OR, USA / BC-UC Irvine)
KRUSHEN, Sydney (Regina, SK-Team Sask)
MADY, Isabella (Delta, BC-Fraser Valley)
MILNE, Riley (Burnaby, BC-Pacific Storm)
PLOMP, Brooklyn (Ottawa, ON-Capital Wave)
SCARTH, Madeleine (Surrey, BC-Surrey Water Polo)
SEGULJA, Melania (Burnaby, BC-Pacific Storm)
STODDARD, Alexandra (Abbotsford, BC-Fraser Valley)
ULMER-LUTUDROMU, Makayla (Regina, SK-Team Sask)
Alternates
CLARK, Mackenzie (BC-Fraser Valley)
COWAN, Penny (AB-Edmonton Tsunami)
FOLK, Abigail (ON-Mavericks)
PINEDA-MCLEAN, McKenna (AB-Calgary Renegades)
Coaches
Head Coach: Samuel Donoghue
Assistant Coach: Kyra Christmas
Support Staff
Team Manager: Ethan D’Souza
Team Therapist: Danaée Vachon
