Water polo at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament

{{Infobox Olympic water polo tournament

| gender = women

| year = 2000

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| country = Australia

| city = Sydney

| venue = Ryde Aquatic Leisure Centre,
Sydney International Aquatic Centre

| dates = 16–23 September 2000

| num_teams = 6

| confederations = 4

| competitors = 78

| champion = AUS

| count = 1

| second = USA

| third = RUS

| fourth = NED

| matches = 20

| goals = 245

| total_attendance =

| highest_attendance =

| multiple_appearances =

| multiple_medalists =

| top_scorer = {{flagicon|NED}} Daniëlle de Bruijn
{{flagicon|AUS}} Bridgette Gusterson
{{flagicon|RUS}} Sofia Konukh
(11 goals in 7 matches)

| most_saves = {{flagicon|NED}} Karla Plugge
(45 saves in 7 matches)

| top_sprinter = {{flagicon|RUS}} Tatiana Petrova
(16 sprints won in 7 matches)

| mvp =

| previous =

| next = 2004

}}

The women's water polo tournament at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, was held from 16 to 23 September 2000, with six teams competing in the debut tournament. The games were held at the Ryde Aquatic Centre and the Sydney Olympic Aquatic Centre. It was the first time in history that women's water polo officially competed at the Summer Olympics.

The tournament's format saw the six teams compete in a round-robin with the top four teams qualifying through to the semi-finals while the fifth and sixth teams competed in the fifth place playoff. From there, the winners of the semis met in the gold medal match while the losers met in the bronze medal match.

At the end of the round-robin, Australia, the Netherlands, Russia and the United States finished in the top four. After the Australians and the Americans each won their semi-final, they met in the final which was played on 23 September 2000. With the match tied at 3–3, Yvette Higgins scored the winning goal with only 1.3 seconds left on the clock to give Australia the gold medal. Russia captured bronze, beating the Netherlands 4–3.

Background and qualification

The women's water polo tournament at the 2000 Summer Olympics was the first time the tournament was held at the Olympic Games. Previous tournaments included the World Aquatics Championships (since 1986) and the World Cup (since 1979). Despite it being held as a demonstration sport at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, women's water polo was not accepted as part of the 2000 Olympics until October 1997.{{cite news|url=http://www.olympics.com/eng/index.html|title=The long and winding road|date=15 September 2000|location=Sydney|publisher=Olympics|via=trove.org|access-date=8 August 2021|archive-date=8 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210808043150/https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20000914130000/http://www.olympics.com/eng/index.html|url-status=dead}}

15 teams attempted to qualify through to the tournament with two qualification paths to the Olympics. The World Cup, which was held in Winnipeg, Canada, where the Netherlands and Canada qualified through as the leading European and American team for the tournament.{{cite web|url=http://www.todor66.com/Water_Polo/World_Cup/Women_1999.html|title=Women Water Polo 12th World Cup 1999 Winnipeg|publisher=Todor66|access-date=8 August 2021|archive-date=4 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404153208/http://todor66.com/Water_Polo/World_Cup/Women_1999.html|url-status=live}} The final qualifier was held in Palermo, Italy, in April 2000. The top two teams (Russia and the United States) qualified. Kazakhstan, who finished in sixth place, qualified through the spot reserved for Asian teams.{{cite news|url=http://www.olympics.com/eng/index.html|title=Historic women's field set to make waves|date=14 September 2000|location=Sydney|publisher=Olympics|via=trove.org|access-date=8 August 2021|archive-date=8 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210808043150/https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20000914130000/http://www.olympics.com/eng/index.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.todor66.com/Water_Polo/Olympic/Women_OQ_2000.html|title=Women Water Polo Olympic Games 2000 Qualification Palermo (ITA)|publisher=Todor66|access-date=8 August 2021|archive-date=30 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130040633/http://www.todor66.com/Water_Polo/Olympic/Women_OQ_2000.html|url-status=live}}

style="width: 30%;" \| Event ! style-"width: 23%;" \| Dates ! style="width: 20%;" \| Hosts ! style="width: 7%;" \| Quota ! style="width: 20%;" \| Qualifier(s)
class="wikitable" style="width: 800px;"
Host nation	{{n/a}}	{{n/a}}	align="center"\| 1	{{wpw\|AUS}}
rowspan=2\| 1999 FINA World Cup	rowspan=2\| 24–29 May 1999	rowspan=2\| {{flagicon\|CAN}} Winnipeg	rowspan=2 align="center"\|2	{{wpw\|CAN}}
{{wpw\|NED}}
rowspan=3\| 2000 Women's Olympic Water Polo Qualifying Tournament	rowspan=3\| 22–30 April 2000	rowspan=3\| {{flagicon\|ITA}} Palermo	rowspan=3 align="center"\|3	{{wpw\|KAZ}}
{{wpw\|RUS}}
{{wpw\|USA}}
Total	colspan="2"\|	6

Preliminary round

=Summary=

The tournament began on 16 September 2000, with all six teams competing on the first day.{{Cite HistoFINA wp |page=wog |format=dmy }} In the first match, Olga Leshchuk scored the opening goal of the tournament for Kazakhstan, but Australia dominated with Bridgette Gusterson scoring three goals and Yvette Higgins two goals as Australia defeated Kazakhstan 9–2.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83023380/polished-finish/|title=Polished finish makes up for rusty start|first=Jake|last=Niall|newspaper=The Age|date=17 September 2000|page=16|access-date=8 August 2021|via=newspapers.com|archive-date=8 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210808055414/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83023380/polished-finish/|url-status=live}} The following match saw Russia and Canada finish with a seven all draw which the Edmonton Journal described as a match like "old style Russia-Canada hockey".{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83287142/canada-battle/|title=Canucks battle back in pool war|first=Dave|last=Stubbs|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|date=17 September 2000|page=C6|access-date=12 August 2021|via=newspapers.com|archive-date=12 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812120411/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83287142/canada-battle/|url-status=live}} The final match of the opening day saw the United States defeat the Netherlands 6–4, despite the Dutch coming back early in the third quarter.{{cite web|url=http://www.olympics.com/eng/index.html|title=United States opens with 6-4 win over Netherlands|date=16 September 2000|via=trove.org|access-date=12 August 2021|archive-date=28 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728061058/https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20000915130000/http://www.olympics.com/eng/index.html|url-status=dead}}

The following day, Australia became the only team to be two for two in the tournament after breaking the three all deadlock with goals from Gusterson and Melissa Mills as they went on to defeat Russia 6–3.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83418140/russia-vs-australia-at-wp/|title=Russian maulers play 'rip the cossie but Australian women wrap up victory|first=Jake|last=Niall|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=18 September 2000|page=8|access-date=14 August 2021|via=newspapers.com|archive-date=14 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814133701/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83418140/russia-vs-australia-at-wp/|url-status=live}} The Americans came back from a three goal deficit at the start of the final quarter to secure a goal in the last seconds of the game to finish with a draw with Canada. For the Canadians, the plan to control the shot-clock failed because of errors leading to their second draw of the tournament.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83418445/canada-vs-united-states-wp-2000/|title=Canada squanders lead|first=Dave|last=Stubbs|location=Sydney|newspaper=Calgary Herald|date=18 September 2000|page=D20|access-date=14 August 2021|via=newspapers.com|archive-date=14 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814133701/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83418445/canada-vs-united-states-wp-2000/|url-status=live}} The final match of the second day saw the Netherlands defeat Kazakhstan 8–6 with Daniëlle de Bruijn and Marjan op den Velde both scoring three goals in the victory.{{Cite web|url=http://www.olympics.com/eng/index.html|title=Netherlands beat Kazakhstan 8-6|date=17 September 2000|access-date=14 August 2021|via=trove.org|archive-date=14 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814133704/https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20000916130000/http://www.olympics.com/eng/index.html|url-status=dead}}

Day three of the preliminary round saw the first loss for the Australians, 5–4 to the Dutch. This was despite three goals from Yvette Higgins as the Dutch took the victory at the start of the final quarter.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83476705/australia-vs-netherlands-wp-2000/|title=No cause for panic despite defeat|first=Jake|last=Niall|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=19 September 2000|page=11|access-date=15 August 2021|via=newspapers.com|archive-date=15 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815104126/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83476705/australia-vs-netherlands-wp-2000/|url-status=live}} The Americans took top spot in the group after Coralie Simmons scored three goals as they worked their way to a 7–5 win over Russia.{{cite web|url=http://www.olympics.com/eng/index.html|title=USA defeats Russia 7-5 to lead points table|date=18 September 2000|via=trove.org|access-date=15 August 2021|archive-date=15 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815104127/https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20000917130000/http://www.olympics.com/eng/index.html|url-status=dead}} Four Canadians scored two goals each in the final match of the day as they romped over Kazakhstan 10–3 to record their first win of the campaign. In the process, they kept Leschuk goalless in the match.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83476785/|title=Water Polo squad rules|date=19 September 2000|page=F4|newspaper=Montreal Gazette|access-date=15 August 2021|via=newspapers.com|archive-date=15 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015204742/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83476785/the-gazette/|url-status=live}}

The fourth day of the preliminary round saw the first teams to qualify through to the semi-finals. In the opening match of the day, the Australians defeated the undefeated Americans 7–6 to book a spot in the semis with the United States. In a tense match, the Australians got the victory from a turnover when Bridgette Gusterson scored the winning goal with a long shot in the last thirty seconds of the match.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84276910/usavaus-wp-2000/|title=Women sink US to seal berth in semis|first=Jake|last=Niall|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=19 September 2000|page=179|access-date=28 August 2021|via=newspapers.com|archive-date=28 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828065741/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84276910/usavaus-wp-2000/|url-status=live}} The first half dominance by Russia strengthened their chance of a semi-final as they scored ten goals, five of those being from player advantage situations. This performance led to the biggest victory of the tournament, as Russia won 15–6, knocking Kazakhstan out of the tournament in the process.{{cite web|url=http://www.olympics.com/eng/index.html|title=Russian attack guns down Kazakhstan 15-6|date=19 September 2000|via=trove.org|access-date=28 August 2021|archive-date=28 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828065705/https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20000918130000/http://www.olympics.com/eng/index.html|url-status=dead}} The Netherlands became the third team to qualify through to the semis after two goals from Danielle de Bruijn and Karin Kuipers secured a 7–4 win over Canada.{{cite web|url=http://www.olympics.com/eng/index.html|title=Netherlands win third straight, 7-4 over Canada|date=19 September 2000|via=trove.org|access-date=28 August 2021|archive-date=28 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828065705/https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20000918130000/http://www.olympics.com/eng/index.html|url-status=dead}}

The final day of the preliminary round began on 20 September. In the opening match, Australia finished top of the group after defeating the Canadians 9–4 with goalkeeper, Danielle Woodhouse saving nine of the 13 shots for Australia and Simone Hankin scoring three goals in the victory.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84338282/final-day-of-wp-2000/|title=Final showdown with US looms in the pool|first=Jake|last=Niall|date=21 September 2000|page=159|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=29 August 2021|via=newspapers.com|archive-date=29 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829074926/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84338282/final-day-of-wp-2000/|url-status=live}} The following match, Russia book the final spot in the semis with a 6–3 win over the Netherlands, knocking Canada out of the competition in the process. Sofia Konoukh was the top scorer in the match with three goals, as the Russians played with greater tenacity and purpose. In the final match of the preliminary round, the United States took their advantage of power plays, scoring five out of seven attempts as they went to win 9–6 over Kazakhstan.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84338438/wp-2000-usaw/|title=Rematch awaits U.S. women's water polo team|first=Mike|last=Kupper|location=Sydney|page=B3|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times|date=21 September 2000|access-date=29 August 2021|via=newspapers.com|archive-date=29 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829074926/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84338438/wp-2000-usaw/|url-status=live}}

=Standings=

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|source=[https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll8/id/53030/rec/8 LA84]

|winpoints=2

|update=complete

|name_AUS={{wpw|AUS}}

|name_USA={{wpw|USA}}

|name_NED={{wpw|NED}}

|name_RUS={{wpw|RUS}}

|name_KAZ={{wpw|KAZ}}

|name_CAN={{wpw|CAN}}

|team_order=AUS, USA, NED, RUS, CAN, KAZ

|class_rules = 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference.

|res_col_header=Q

|result1=SF |result2=SF |result3=SF |result4=SF

|col_SF=green1 |text_SF=Semi Finals

}}

=Matches=

{{waterpolobox

| date= 16 September 2000

| time= 13:00

| team1= {{wpw-rt|KAZ}}

| score1= 2

| team2= {{wpw|AUS}}

| score2= 9

| report=[https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll8/id/53048/rec/8 Report]

| location= Ryde Aquatic Centre

| referees= Melliar (RSA), Rolf Ludecke (GER)

| Q1= 1-2

| Q2= 1-2

| Q3= 0-1

| Q4= 0-4

| goals1=two players 1

| goals2=Gusterson 3

}}

{{waterpolobox

| date= 16 September 2000

| time= 18:00

| team1= {{wpw-rt|CAN}}

| score1= 7

| team2= {{wpw|RUS}}

| score2= 7

| report=[https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll8/id/53050/rec/8 Report]

| location= Ryde Aquatic Centre

| referees= Ahmet Erhan Tulga (TUR), Patrick Clemenson (FRA)

| Q1= 2-3

| Q2= 0-1

| Q3= 2-2

| Q4= 3-1

| goals1=Dow 3

| goals2=two players 2

}}

{{waterpolobox

| date= 16 September 2000

| time= 19:15

| team1= {{wpw-rt|NED}}

| score1= 4

| team2= {{wpw|USA}}

| score2= 6

| report=[https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll8/id/53049/rec/8 Report]

| location= Ryde Aquatic Centre

| referees= Angel Moliner Molins (ESP), Gyorgy Csaszar (HUN)

| Q1= 0-2

| Q2= 1-1

| Q3= 2-1

| Q4= 1-2

| goals1=de Bruijn 2

| goals2=Lorenz 2

}}

----

{{waterpolobox

| date= 17 September 2000

| time= 13:00

| team1= {{wpw-rt|AUS}}

| score1= 6

| team2= {{wpw|RUS}}

| score2= 3

| report=[https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll8/id/53058/rec/8 Report]

| location= Ryde Aquatic Centre

| referees= Paraskevas Chasekioglou (GRE), Gad Schwartz (ISR)

| Q1= 2-1

| Q2= 1-1

| Q3= 2-1

| Q4= 1-0

| goals1=two players 2

| goals2=three players 1

}}

{{waterpolobox

| date= 17 September 2000

| time= 18:00

| team1= {{wpw-rt|USA}}

| score1= 8

| team2= {{wpw|CAN}}

| score2= 8

| report=[https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll8/id/53057/rec/8 Report]

| location= Ryde Aquatic Centre

| referees= Boris Margeta (SLO), Vlastimil Kratochvil (SVK)

| Q1= 3-3

| Q2= 2-3

| Q3= 0-2

| Q4= 3-0

| goals1=Beauregard 3

| goals2=Horn-Miller 3

}}

{{waterpolobox

| date= 17 September 2000

| time= 19:15

| team1= {{wpw-rt|KAZ}}

| score1= 6

| team2= {{wpw|NED}}

| score2= 8

| report=[https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll8/id/53059/rec/8 Report]

| location= Ryde Aquatic Centre

| referees= Dragan Rajevic (YUG), Juan Carlos Menéndez (CUB)

| Q1= 2-2

| Q2= 2-2

| Q3= 1-2

| Q4= 1-2

| goals1=Leshchuk 3

| goals2=two players 3

}}

----

{{waterpolobox

| date= 18 September 2000

| time= 13:00

| team1= {{wpw-rt|NED}}

| score1= 5

| team2= {{wpw|AUS}}

| score2= 4

| report=[https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll8/id/53052/rec/8 Report]

| location= Ryde Aquatic Centre

| referees= Zeljko Klaric (CRO), Ahmet Erhan Tulga (TUR)

| Q1= 2-1

| Q2= 1-1

| Q3= 0-2

| Q4= 2-0

| goals1=de Bruijn 2

| goals2=Higgins 3

}}

{{waterpolobox

| date= 18 September 2000

| time= 18:00

| team1= {{wpw-rt|RUS}}

| score1= 5

| team2= {{wpw|USA}}

| score2= 7

| report=[https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll8/id/53051/rec/8 Report]

| location= Ryde Aquatic Centre

| referees= Renato Dani (ITA), Patrick Clemencon (FRA)

| Q1= 1-1

| Q2= 2-2

| Q3= 1-3

| Q4= 1-1

| goals1=five players 1

| goals2=Simmons 3

}}

{{waterpolobox

| date= 18 September 2000

| time= 19:15

| team1= {{wpw-rt|CAN}}

| score1= 10

| team2= {{wpw|KAZ}}

| score2= 3

| report=[https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll8/id/53053/rec/8 Report]

| location= Ryde Aquatic Centre

| referees= Rolf Ludecke (GER), Vahid Moradi (IRI)

| Q1= 3-1

| Q2= 3-0

| Q3= 1-2

| Q4= 3-0

| goals1=four players 2

| goals2=three players 1

}}

----

{{waterpolobox

| date= 19 September 2000

| time= 13:00

| team1= {{wpw-rt|USA}}

| score1= 6

| team2= {{wpw|AUS}}

| score2= 7

| report=[https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll8/id/53056/rec/8 Report]

| location= Ryde Aquatic Centre

| referees= Paraskevas Chasekioglou (GRE), Boris Margeta (SLO)

| Q1= 2-2

| Q2= 1-0

| Q3= 2-4

| Q4= 1-1

| goals1=two players 2

| goals2=Gusteron 2

}}

{{waterpolobox

| date= 19 September 2000

| time= 18:00

| team1= {{wpw-rt|KAZ}}

| score1= 6

| team2= {{wpw|RUS}}

| score2= 15

| report=[https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll8/id/53054/rec/8 Report]

| location= Ryde Aquatic Centre

| referees= Gad Schwartz (ISR), Vlastimil Kratochvil (SVK)

| Q1= 1-5

| Q2= 1-5

| Q3= 3-3

| Q4= 1-2

| goals1=Aleyeva 2

| goals2=two players 3

}}

{{waterpolobox

| date= 19 September 2000

| time= 19:15

| team1= {{wpw-rt|NED}}

| score1= 7

| team2= {{wpw|CAN}}

| score2= 4

| report=[https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll8/id/53055/rec/8 Report]

| location= Ryde Aquatic Centre

| referees= Angel Moliner Molins (ESP), Renato Dani (ITA)

| Q1= 3-0

| Q2= 0-2

| Q3= 2-2

| Q4= 2-0

| goals1=two players 2

| goals2=Begin 2

}}

----

{{waterpolobox

| date= 20 September 2000

| time= 13:00

| team1= {{wpw-rt|CAN}}

| score1= 4

| team2= {{wpw|AUS}}

| score2= 9

| report= [https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll8/id/53045/rec/8 Report]

| location= Ryde Aquatic Centre

| referees= Rolf Ludecke (GER), Patrick Clemencon (FRA)

| Q1= 0-1

| Q2= 2-4

| Q3= 1-2

| Q4= 1-2

| goals1=four players 1

| goals2=Hankin 3

}}

{{waterpolobox

| date= 20 September 2000

| time= 18:00

| team1= {{wpw-rt|RUS}}

| score1= 6

| team2= {{wpw|NED}}

| score2= 3

| report= [https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll8/id/53046/rec/8 Report]

| location= Ryde Aquatic Centre

| referees= Ahmet Erhan Tulga (TUR), Gyorgy Csaszar (HUN)

| Q1= 1-2

| Q2= 1-1

| Q3= 3-0

| Q4= 1-0

| goals1=Konoukh 3

| goals2=Kuipers 2

}}

{{waterpolobox

| date= 20 September 2000

| time= 19:15

| team1= {{wpw-rt|KAZ}}

| score1= 6

| team2= {{wpw|USA}}

| score2= 9

| report= [https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll8/id/53047/rec/8 Report]

| location= Ryde Aquatic Centre

| referees= Zeljko Klaric (CRO), Vahid Moradi (IRI)

| Q1=1-2

| Q2=1-3

| Q3=2-3

| Q4=2-1

| goals1=two players 2

| goals2=Villa 4

}}

Final round

=Bracket=

{{#invoke:RoundN|N4

|widescore=yes|bold_winner=high

|3rdplace=yes

| RD3=Gold medal

| Consol=Bronze medal

|22 September|{{wpw|AUS}}|7|{{wpw|RUS}}|6

|22 September|{{wpw|USA}}|6|{{wpw|NED}}|5

|23 September|{{wpw|AUS}}|4|{{wpw|USA}}|3

|23 September|{{wpw|RUS}}|4|{{wpw|NED}}| 3

}}

=Semifinals=

The women's tournament semifinals took place on 22 September. The opening semi saw the Australians take on Russia. During the opening half, the Australians struggled across both ends of the pool as the Russians opened up a 4–3 lead at half-time. The Russians seeming to be in control and with five minutes left, held firm with a 6–4 lead. But three late goals, including two in the last ninety seconds, booked the Australians a spot in the final with a 7–6 victory. At the end of the match, coach Istvan Gorgenyi responded saying, "the girls made a miracle happen with their hearts".{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84750393/aus-vs-rus-wp-2000/|title=Diehards put a miracle together out of courage|first=Jake|last=Niall|page=12|date=23 September 2000|access-date=5 September 2021|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|via=newspapers.com|archive-date=5 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905122808/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84750393/aus-vs-rus-wp-2000/|url-status=live}}

In the other semi-final, the Americans fought hard as they knocked out the then-World Cup champions, the Netherlands 6–5. This was due partly to two goals from Maureen O'Toole and Coralie Simmons. At the end of the match, United States coach Guy Baker said, "we know we're going to get a medal, a lot of this is indescribable".{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84750492/us-v-ned-wp-2000/|title=Golden final: U.S. vs. Aussies|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|author=Associated Press|page=12C|date=23 September 2000|access-date=5 September 2021|via=newspapers.com|archive-date=5 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905122810/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84750492/us-v-ned-wp-2000/|url-status=live}}

{{waterpolobox

| date= 22 September 2000

| time= 13:00

| team1= {{wpw-rt|AUS}}

| score1= 7

| team2= {{wpw|RUS}}

| score2= 6

| report=[https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll8/id/53043/rec/8 Report]

| location= Ryde Aquatic Centre

| referees= Rolf Helmut Ludecke (GER), Boris Margeta (SLO)

| Q1= 2-3

| Q2= 1-1

| Q3= 1-2

| Q4= 3-0

| goals1= Mayer 3

| goals2= Tokoun 2

}}

----

{{waterpolobox

| date= 22 September 2000

| time= 19:15

| team1= {{wpw-rt|USA}}

| score1= 6

| team2= {{wpw|NED}}

| score2= 5

| report=[https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll8/id/53044/rec/8 Report]

| location= Ryde Aquatic Centre

| referees= Renato Dani (ITA), Patrick Clemencon (FRA)

| Q1= 3-2

| Q2= 1-3

| Q3= 1-0

| Q4= 1-0

| goals1= two players 2

| goals2= two players 2

}}

=5th place match=

The battle for fifth place took place on the same day as the semi-finals, with the Canadians coming out on top in the match with a goal by Jana Salat in the second period of overtime, giving Canada the fifth spot.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84522013/canada-vs-kazakhstan-5th-place-2000/|title=Playing for pride, water polo team avoids last place|first=David|last=Stubbs|location=Sydney|page=C4|newspaper=Calgary Herald|date=22 September 2000|access-date=1 September 2021|via=newspapers.com|archive-date=1 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901120257/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84522013/canada-vs-kazakhstan-5th-place-2000/|url-status=live}}

{{waterpolobox

| date= 22 September 2000

| time= 18:00

| team1= {{wpw-rt|CAN}}

| score1= 9

| team2= {{wpw|KAZ}}

| score2= 8

| report=[https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll8/id/53042/rec/8 Report]

| location= Ryde Aquatic Centre

| referees= Andrew Jay Takata (USA), Phillip Bower (AUS)

| Q1= 1-1

| Q2= 3-3

| Q3= 2-3

| Q4= 2-1

| OT= 1-0, 0–0

| goals1=four players 2

| goals2=Pyryseva 3

}}

=Bronze medal match=

The second-to-last match of the tournament saw the Russians take home the bronze medal as they defeated the Netherlands 4–3. Two goals in the last two minutes of the match from Sofia Konoukh and Ioulia Petrova brought Russia back from a 3–2 deficit to the bronze medal. For the Netherlands, this meant they had failed to win a medal in a major water polo competition across 17 tournaments in the World Cup and the World Championships.{{cite web|url=http://www.olympics.com/eng/index.html|title=Russia wins bronze medal over Netherlands|date=23 September 2000|access-date=6 September 2021|via=trove.org|archive-date=6 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906113205/https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20000922130000/http://www.olympics.com/eng/index.html|url-status=dead}}

{{waterpolobox

| date= 23 September 2000

| time= 20:00

| team1= {{wpw-rt|RUS}}

| score1= 4

| team2= {{wpw|NED}}

| score2= 3

| report=[https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll8/id/53041/rec/8 Report]

| location= Sydney Olympic Aquatic Centre

| referees= Ahmet Erhan Tulga (TUR), Paraskevas Chasekioglou (GRE)

| Q1= 0-2

| Q2= 1-0

| Q3= 1-1

| Q4= 2-0

| goals1= Konoukh 2

| goals2= Kuipers 2

}}

=Gold medal match=

With a crowd of 17,000 watching the gold medal match, including Australian prime minister John Howard, the Australians and the Americans battled in a final which went undecided until the last few seconds.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84816197/ausvusa-wpf-2000/|title=Australia women win water polo gold in a classic|first=Jake|last=Niall|page=4|newspaper=The Sunday Age|date=24 September 2000|access-date=6 September 2021|via=newspapers.com|archive-date=6 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906120541/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84816197/ausvusa-wpf-2000/|url-status=live}} The Americans had opened up a one-goal lead in the first and second quarter before the Australians leveled the match at two all after three quarters.

Goalkeeping from both Bernice Orwig and Liz Weekes kept the match level until the final two minutes when Naomi Castle gave the Australians the lead with a goal at a player advantage. Brenda Villa tied the match at three all with only 13 seconds left in the match as the Americans took the advantage of a foul by the Australians. In the final seconds, a foul was called on Julie Swail of the U.S., and with 1.3 seconds left on the clock, the Australians scored the match winning goal from Yvette Higgins to give Australia not only the win but the first gold medal in women's water polo.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84816371/aus-v-usa-2000-wp-f/|title=Americans' defeat is a tear-jerker|first=Helene|last=Elliott|location=Sydney|page=U4|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times|date=24 September 2000|access-date=6 September 2021|via=newspapers.com|archive-date=6 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906120541/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84816371/aus-v-usa-2000-wp-f/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/24/sports/sydney-2000-water-polo-australia-stuns-us-with-a-last-second-score.html|title=Australia Stuns U.S. With a Last-Second Score|first=Selena|last=Roberts|url-access=subscription|website=The New York Times|date=24 September 2000|access-date=6 September 2021|archive-date=30 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830092823/https://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/24/sports/sydney-2000-water-polo-australia-stuns-us-with-a-last-second-score.html|url-status=live}}

{{waterpolobox

| date= 23 September 2000

| time= 21:15

| team1= {{wpw-rt|AUS}}

| score1= 4

| team2= {{wpw|USA}}

| score2= 3

| report=[https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll8/id/53040/rec/8 Report]

| location= Sydney Olympic Aquatic Centre

| referees= Renato Dani (ITA), Vladimir Prikhodko (KAZ)

| Q1= 1-1

| Q2= 0-1

| Q3= 1-0

| Q4= 2-1

| goals1= four players 1

| goals2= Villa 2

}}

Final ranking

At the end of the tournament, Australia recorded their fourth gold medal in a major water polo competition. Their three previous gold medals were won in 1984, 1995 (both FINA World Cups) and the 1986 World Aquatic Championships.

class="wikitable" !Rank !!style="width:10em"\|Team
align=center\|File:gold medal icon.svg	{{wpw\|AUS}}
align=center\|File:silver medal icon.svg	{{wpw\|USA}}
align=center\|File:bronze medal icon.svg	{{wpw\|RUS}}
align=center\|4	{{wpw\|NED}}
align=center\|5	{{wpw\|CAN}}
align=center\|6	{{wpw\|KAZ}}

Medalists

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size: 95%;"

style="width: 16em;background: gold"|Gold

|style="width: 16em;background: silver"|Silver

|style="width: 16em;background: #CC9966"|Bronze

Naomi Castle
Joanne Fox
Bridgette Gusterson
Simone Hankin
Yvette Higgins
Kate Hooper
Bronwyn Mayer-Smith
Gail Miller
Melissa Mills
Debbie Watson (C)
Liz Weekes (GK)
Danielle Woodhouse (GK)
Taryn Woods

Head coach: István Görgényi

| {{flagIOCteam|USA|2000 Summer}}

Robin Beauregard
Ellen Estes
Courtney Johnson
Ericka Lorenz
Heather Moody
Maureen O'Toole
Bernice Orwig (GK)
Nicolle Payne (GK)
Heather Petri
Kathy Sheehy
Coralie Simmons
Julie Swail (C)
Brenda Villa

Head coach: Guy Baker

| {{flagIOCteam|RUS|2000 Summer}}

Galina Rytova
Irina Tolkunova
Maria Koroleva
Marina Akobiya
Natalia Kutuzova
Sofia Konukh
Svetlana Kuzina
Tatiana Petrova
Ekaterina Anikeeva
Yekaterina Vasilyeva
Elena Smurova
Elena Tokun
Yuliya Petrova

Head coach: Sergei Frolov

References

Sources

PDF documents in the LA84 Foundation [https://digital.la84.org/digital/ Digital Library]:
[https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll8/id/53061 Official Results Book – 2000 Olympic Games – Water Polo] ([https://digital.la84.org/digital/api/collection/p17103coll8/id/53061/download download], [https://web.archive.org/web/20191008040312/https://digital.la84.org/digital/api/collection/p17103coll8/id/53061/download archive])
Water polo on the Olympedia [https://www.olympedia.org/sports website]
[https://www.olympedia.org/sports/WAP Water polo at the 2000 Summer Olympics] ([https://www.olympedia.org/results/38941 women's tournament])
Water polo on the Sports Reference [https://web.archive.org/web/20200419212721/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/sports/ website]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20200417042526/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/2000/WAP/ Water polo at the 2000 Summer Games] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20200417105700/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/2000/WAP/womens-water-polo.html women's tournament]) (archived)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Water polo at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Women's tournament}}

Category:Water polo at the 2000 Summer Olympics

Category:2000 in women's water polo

Category:Women's events at the 2000 Summer Olympics

class="wikitable" !Rank !!style="width:10em"\|Team
align=center\|File:gold medal icon.svg	{{wpw\|AUS}}
align=center\|File:silver medal icon.svg	{{wpw\|USA}}
align=center\|File:bronze medal icon.svg	{{wpw\|RUS}}
align=center\|4	{{wpw\|NED}}
align=center\|5	{{wpw\|CAN}}
align=center\|6	{{wpw\|KAZ}}