UH faces familiar foe in NCAA water polo

Rainbow Wahine open tournament against Cal for third straight year

Apr. 14, 2026 at 10:05am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting breaking down a women's water polo match into sharp, overlapping geometric planes of color, capturing the dynamic movements and competitive energy of the game.The intense rivalry between UH and Cal water polo is captured in a cubist, geometric deconstruction of the action on the pool.Berkeley Today

The University of Hawaii women's water polo team will face a familiar opponent in the opening round of the National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championship, as they take on fourth-seeded Cal on April 24 in La Jolla, California. This will be the third straight year the two teams have met in the NCAA tournament, with UH defeating Cal 8-7 in the quarterfinals last year after losing to them 9-6 in the national semifinals the year prior.

Why it matters

The matchup between UH and Cal is a highly anticipated one, as the two teams have developed a strong rivalry in recent years. Both programs are perennial contenders in women's water polo, and their tournament meetings have been closely contested affairs.

The details

UH (16-5) earned its 10th NCAA tournament appearance by winning the Big West Tournament on Sunday. The Rainbow Wahine will take on the Golden Bears (14-7) at UC San Diego's Canyonview Pool at 11 a.m. on April 24. The teams have faced each other three times this season, with Cal winning all three matchups, including a 10-8 victory on March 15 in Berkeley.

  • The NCAA tournament will be played from April 24-26 in La Jolla, California.
  • UH and Cal last met in the 2025 NCAA tournament, with UH winning 8-7 in the quarterfinals.
  • In 2024, Cal defeated UH 9-6 in the national semifinals.

The players

University of Hawaii women's water polo team

The University of Hawaii's women's water polo team, known as the Rainbow Wahine, is a perennial contender in the NCAA tournament, having made their 10th appearance this year.

Cal

The California Golden Bears women's water polo team is the fourth seed in the 2026 NCAA tournament and a longtime rival of the University of Hawaii.

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What’s next

The winner of the UH-Cal matchup will advance to the semifinals of the NCAA tournament, which will be held on April 25. The national championship match is scheduled for April 26 and will be televised on ESPNU.

The takeaway

The highly anticipated matchup between UH and Cal in the NCAA water polo tournament is a testament to the strength and competitiveness of both programs. Their recent history of close tournament battles has only added to the rivalry, making this year's meeting one of the must-watch events of the championship.