After securing third place at the MPSF tournament, No. 2 seed UCLA women’s water polo (20-4, 4-2 MPSF) will kick off its NCAA tournament run against No. 7 seed Harvard (26-3, 5-1 CWPA) at Canyonview Aquatic Center in La Jolla, California, on Friday evening. The Bruins reached the national semifinal last season, falling to the Trojans by two goals. But before UCLA begins play, Daily Bruin Sports’ women’s water polo beat predicts how the Westwood squad will fare at this year’s tournament.

Gabriela Garcia
Assistant Sports editor

Prediction: Loss in the semifinal

It may be fair to say the trophy is anyone’s take.

It may be just as fair to remain undecided.

But one thing is for sure – a challenge awaits.

The Bruins have faltered when it mattered most this year, losing a chance at the conference title when they fell to the Trojans on April 4 – after beating them twice earlier in the 2026 campaign – and then dropping a triple-overtime match to the Cardinal for a spot in the MPSF tournament championship.

Although both games were decided by two goals or less, UCLA has struggled to execute the final push in tight matches. And in a win-or-go-home setting, it will need to figure out the formula quickly.

The Bruins will cruise past the Crimson easily to open the weekend – a team they bested by 11 goals March 21 while allowing a season-low-tying four to find the back of the net. But the real challenge will begin when UCLA most likely faces No. 3 seed USC in the semifinal round.

And the Bruins will fall victim to the time old tale of history repeating itself.

Although UCLA holds a 2-1 season record over USC, a slow start or incomplete offensive game will sit in the way of advancing and end the Bruins season.

As they will fall to the three seeded Trojans in the semifinal match for the second straight year in a row.

Felicia Keller
Sports senior staff

Prediction: National champions

The Bruins are right there.

They’ve beaten the Trojans twice.

They’ve come oh so close to beating the Cardinal, multiple times.

But they have not been able to seal the deal.

It’s all been leading up to the NCAA championship. If they can play a consistent game – dominating through all four quarters, instead of just three – the Bruins could take the national title. But they will also have to do that twice in back-to-back days, against tough competition.

Unlike UCLA’s last national championship in 2024 where it went undefeated, this year’s women’s water polo season has been relatively tight across the top-three teams.

It’s a great opportunity for UCLA to sneak in when it matters most and win the season outright, right at the last moment.

Harvard will be easy money. Then comes daddy’s money – the crosstown rivals are a challenge to be sure, but not one UCLA can’t rise to.

And finally Stanford.

The Bruins took the Cardinal to triple-overtime before they fell to them at the MPSF tournament. Each loss they’ve learned, improved and gotten closer.

This time, it will be enough and UCLA will take home the natty.

Kate Bergfeld

Daily Bruin contributor

Prediction: National champions

I may have been overly optimistic in the past.

I might have yet to get a prediction correct.

However, I truly believe this is the one that’ll break the streak.

UCLA has proven it has what it takes to make it far in the postseason, having previously triumphed over its first round opponent, No. 7 seed Harvard by a whopping 11 goals.

And while they may have lost the last time they faced the Trojans, the Bruins have beaten them twice before this season and know what they need to do to advance to the finals.

Or, if No. 6 seed LMU pulls off the upset, the UCLA squad triumphed over them 9-5 in its last match at Spieker Aquatics Center this season, further proving they can advance to the championship match.

But Stanford stands in its way.

The No. 1 seed has bested the UCLA team every time they have met this season, yet each match was decided by a single goal. And in the MPSF tournament, a triple-overtime finish proved that the Bruins have almost figured out what it takes to topple the Cardinals.

In their latest matchup, they had nearly the same number of shots, 33 to 39, respectively, and put away a third of them. While they only won two of the five sprints, they had seven exclusions compared to the Cardinals 15.

If the Bruins can capitalize on the power play opportunities, then they can seal the deal and bring home another NCAA championship trophy to Westwood.