CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – No. 13 women's water polo is set to defend its CWPA title beginning with the Bruno Classic this weekend at Blodgett Pool. 

After a series of schedule changes, the women's program will begin their 2026 season on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. against Iona before a Saturday doubleheader with Wagner at 9:00 a.m. and LIU and a lone game on Sunday morning against Chapman at 9:00 a.m. 

WHAT TO KNOW 

• The reigning CWPA champions, the Crimson return coming off the most successful season in program history- a year that saw Harvard win its first-ever conference title and advance to the NCAA tournament for the first time. 
• The Crimson rose as high as No. 8 in the national polls during the historic run.
• Recording a program-best 26 wins in 2025, Harvard defeated 16 ranked opponents and entered the CWPA Championship needing to get past both nationally ranked Michigan and Princeton. 
• Trailing in each contest, the then-No. 11 Crimson rallied to secure back-to-back overtime victories in the semifinal and championship games to claim the league crown.
• Minnis enters the 2026 season after being named The James Herscot '58 Coach of Excellence earlier this fall, following the most successful campaign in program history. Harvard opened last year winning 16 of its first 17 contests, with win No. 16 marking the 250th victory of Minnis' career. 
• Down the stretch, the Crimson played some of its strongest water polo of the year, capturing five wins in its final six games leading into the CWPA Championship.
• In the pool, ACWPC All-America honorees Niki Piovan, Orli Cooper, Maya O'Dea, and Emma Gilbert all return for the 2026 season.
• Then-rookie Piovan led the group with a third-team All-America selection, becoming the program's first third-team honoree since 2023 and only the third in Harvard history. 
• Piovan finished her breakout year with 58 goals and 48 assists, totaling 106 points en route to earning both CWPA Rookie of the Year and CWPA Tournament Rookie of the Tournament honors.
• Cooper, O'Dea, and Gilbert were each named ACWPC Honorable Mention selections. 
• O'Dea and Gilbert earned the recognition for the second straight season after playing pivotal roles in Harvard's record-setting year. 
• Cooper, the team's standout goalkeeper, broke the program's single-season saves record and was named Most Outstanding Player at the CWPA Tournament.

NEXT UP 
Harvard heads to Princeton next weekend for a three game weekend at DeNunzio Pool.