Stanford Water Polo

If you want to see a Stanford team that wins national titles as a matter of habit, go to the pool. The men's water polo team has won 11 NCAA championships and the women's team 10. Both play at Avery Aquatic Center, an outdoor complex in the athletics district where the stands sit right at the edge of the water. Games are fast, loud and easy to follow once you know a few rules.

This page covers the history of both programs, the current seasons and how to watch. For the pools themselves, see our Avery Aquatic Center guide. For rules that apply to all Stanford sports, see Stanford sports and game days.

Men's water polo

Stanford's men won their first NCAA title in 1976, when the championship was less than a decade old. They won five more by 1986 and added titles in the 1990s, the early 2000s and 2019. Stanford Athletics counts 36 NCAA tournament appearances.

The head coach is Brian Flacks, whose title is the Dunlevie Family Director of Men's Water Polo. The team plays its conference schedule in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The ACC does not sponsor the sport, so the 2024 move left water polo where it was, in a league with UCLA, USC and Cal.

The men's 2026 season

The 2026 team had one of the best starts in the country. Through October 25 it stood at 15 wins and 2 losses. Highlights included road wins at UCLA and USC on the first weekend of October. The two losses were to UCLA by one goal in the final of the MPSF invitational Stanford hosted in September and at Cal on October 17. What remained on the schedule on gostanford.com when this page was updated:

The Cal game under the lights is the one to circle. It is the regular season home finale and it carries the weight of the Big Game rivalry into the pool.

Women's water polo

The NCAA began crowning a women's water polo champion in 2001. Stanford won the second title in 2002 and has collected nine more since. Stanford Athletics also lists a 1999 runner-up finish from the years before the NCAA took over.

John Tanner, the Dunlevie Family Director of Women's Water Polo, leads the program. The 2026 team finished 15 and 2. It won the MPSF tournament in Berkeley in April with a 16 to 14 final against USC. Its season ended on April 25, 2026, with an 11 to 13 loss to Cal at the NCAA championship in La Jolla. The women's season mixes invitational tournaments with single games from January to early April, then moves to the MPSF tournament and the NCAA championship. The 2027 season starts in January. Its schedule had not been posted in late October 2026.

Tickets

• Men's games have been ticketed since the 2025 season. In late October 2026 Stanford's ticket site listed the USC, UCLA, Fordham and Cal games starting at $15.
• Women's games. Check each listing on the women's schedule for admission once the 2027 season is posted.
• Where to buy. Use tickets.gostanford.com. Day-of-event ticket windows are at Avery's east entrance.
• Postseason events and some special events always need a ticket.
• Questions go to the Stanford Athletics Ticket Office at Gate 2 of Stanford Stadium, weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Watching a game

Water polo is easy to pick up. Each team has six field players and a goalkeeper. Games run four quarters of eight minutes of playing time. The clock stops often, so plan on roughly an hour and a half. A shot clock keeps play moving. Exclusions, the sport's version of a penalty box, create the power plays that decide close games.

1. Sit high for the full picture. Avery's aluminum bleachers line both sides of the pool. Upper rows show the passing lanes better.
2. Bring sun gear. Afternoon games are in full sun with glare off the water. Sunglasses and a hat help.
3. Bring a jacket for night games. The Big Splash starts at 6 p.m. in mid-November, after sunset.
4. Mind the camera rules. Small cameras under 6 inches are allowed. Tripods are not.

Making a day of it

Weekend men's games usually start around midday or early afternoon. That leaves time for a walk to the Main Quad beforehand or an early dinner downtown afterward. In November, a 1 p.m. game at Avery and an evening women's volleyball match at Maples can fit into the same Saturday when the schedules line up. Check both team pages the week of the game, since television and tournament windows move start times.

Parking and transit

Stanford Athletics sends Avery spectators to the Varsity Lot and Lot 2, also called El Camino Grove, both reached from Nelson Road. Overflow parking for large events is east of Stanford Stadium. Weekday visitor parking rules run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. unless posted. Our Stanford parking and transit guide explains how to pay.

By train, ride to Palo Alto station and walk about 20 minutes through campus. The free Marguerite shuttle runs its main lines on weekdays only, so most weekend water polo fans walk or drive.

Where to eat nearby

Avery has no restaurant. Town & Country Village, across El Camino Real at Embarcadero Road, is the closest place for a meal, with Gott's Roadside, Manresa Bread, Asian Box and Howie's Artisan Pizza among the options. Our Town & Country food guide has the full list. Downtown Palo Alto is about a mile away. Our guide to eating near Stanford sorts the choices by distance.

Want to swim yourself after watching? Avery is for Stanford recreation members only. Our guide to swimming pools in Palo Alto lists public options such as Rinconada Pool, which is open year-round.

Frequently asked questions