Women of Troy Win PanAm Gold With Team USA

USC women's water polo was well represented on the gold-medal stand at the Pan American Championships, with four Trojans having helped Team USA to gold at the event in Colombia. Current Trojans Emily Ausmus, Rachel Gazzaniga and Ava Stryker joined forces with USC alum Amanda Longan on the U.S. roster, with Ausmus named MVP and Longan selected Top Goalkeeper at this year's PanAms.

A two-time Olympian, Longan was the veteran on this USA squad. A freshman Ausmus also brought her 2024 Olympic experience to the team, while this was the first major Senior National Team competition for sophomores Gazzaniga and Stryker. All three current Trojans scored in the gold-medal game, led by Ausmus' hat trick along with a goal apiece from Gazzaniga and Stryker. Longan, meanwhile, managed the cage to the tune of a 12-save outing in the USA's 18-5 win over Argentina to take gold.

Ausmus drummed up a total of 16 goals across Team USA's six wins, topping out a five-goal outburst vs. Mexico. Gazzaniga and Stryker each scored at least once in every game, with Gazzaniga finishing with 12 total goals, including hat tricks vs. Argentina and Brazil. Stryker amassed nine goals for the USA, with two-goal efforts coming vs. Mexico, Colombia and Brazil.

Players Mentioned

Rachel Gazzaniga

Ava Stryker