The 2020 & 2016 Olympic Gold medalist is a three-time All-American at UCLA and another rising star on Team USA as she was named the MVP at both the 2017 FINA World Championships and the 2019 FINA World League Super Final. Sat out the summer and fall of 2018 due to injury but has returned to form in 2019. Great movement without the ball and brings a wide variety of moves to the offensive end. 
 
INTERNATIONAL/CLUB
Netted 11 goals at the 2024 World Aquatics World Championships in Doha...Scored 12 goals at the 2023 World Aquatics World Championships in Fukuoka...Team leader with 23 goals at the 2023 World Aquatics World Cup in Long Beach...Led Team USA with 20 goals scored at 2022 FINA World Championships in Budapest...Named Gold Medal match MVP and media All-Star team member at 2022 FINA World Championships...Named Tournament MVP while scoring 18 goals at 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo...Named Tournament MVP as she led team with 18 goals in gold medal performance at 2021 FINA World League Super Final in Athens...Scored 13 goals at 2019 Pan American Games in Lima...Led Team USA with 13 goals at 2019 FINA World Championships in Gwangju...Named Tournament MVP as she led team with 14 goals on way to Gold at 2019 FINA World League Super Final…Led team in scoring with 16 goals and named Tournament MVP in Gold-medal effort at 2017 FINA World Championships...Tied for second on team in scoring with 8 goals on way to Gold at 2017 FINA World League Super Final…Dropped 12 goals in 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil...Logged 11 goals in 2016 FINA World League Super Final...Scored 13 goals to help Team USA qualify for 2016 Olympic Games...Tallied 9 goals to help team to Gold-medal finish at 2016 FINA Intercontinental Tournament...Posted 5 goals to assist Team USA to a Gold medal win at 2015 FINA World Championship...Recorded 9 goals at 2015 Pan American Games, in which Team USA won Gold...Added 6 goals in Team USA’s run to Gold in 2015 FINA Intercontinental Tournament...Helped Team USA to Gold at 2014 FINA Youth World Championship...Scored 5 goals on way to Silver at FINA Intercontinental Tournament.

COLLEGE
Attended UCLA...2019 1^st Team All-American…Led team with 61 goals…1^st Team All-MPSF…2018 1^st Team All-MPSF...Led team in scoring with 53 goals in 2018...1^st Team All-American…MPSF All-Tournament Team…2017 MPSF Newcomer of the Year in freshman season tallying team-high and UCLA freshman record 69 goals…1^st Team All-American; helped UCLA to NCAA title match…1^st Team All-MPSF …MPSF All-Newcomer Team.

HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Corona del Mar High School from her freshman through junior years...2014 Pacific Coast League MVP…Newport-Mesa Player of the Year…CIF-SS Division 1 Championship in 2013...Attended senior year at Laurel Springs Academy and graduated in 2016.

PERSONAL
Continuing her education at Temple University in the College of Science and Technology (CST) Pre-Health Post Baccalaureate Program [Advanced Core in Health Science Program (ACHS)]. Majored in physiological science at UCLA. Older sister Alex graduated from UCLA in 2016, worked in New York City for two years at Rosenberg and Estis, and now is getting her MA in Strategic Public Relations at USC Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism. Younger sister Ella is junior at Corona Del Mar High School and works summer lifeguarding at Newport Beach Country Club…she’s growing up too fast but is still cute as ever! Parents, Jeff and Karen, were both born and raised on east coast, got married in 1988, and moved to California in 1992. Jeff is a former professional baseball player (Toronto Blue Jays 1986-1989 and New York Mets 1989-1990) and is vice president of Boras Corporation. Karen works at The Hood Kitchen and loves walks around Balboa Island during all times of the day! When everyone is home, the family favorite Penny gets the most attention with lots of treats and snuggles. 

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION HIGHLIGHTS

• 2024 WORLD AQUATICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, DOHA, QATAR, 1ST PLACE
• 2023 WORLD AQUATICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, FUKUOKA, JAPAN, 5TH PLACE
• 2023 WORLD AQUATICS WORLD CUP, LONG BEACH, UNITED STATES, 1ST PLACE
• 2022 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY, 1ST PLACE
• 2020 OLYMPIC GAMES, TOKYO, JAPAN, 1ST PLACE (Took place in 2021 due to Covid-19 Pandemic)
• 2021 FINA WORLD LEAGUE SUPER FINAL, ATHENS, GREECE, 1ST PLACE
• 2019 HOLIDAY CUP, PRINCETON, NJ, 1ST PLACE
• 2019 CANADA CUP, MONTREAL, CANADA, 1ST PLACE
• 2019 PAN AMERICAN GAMES, LIMA, PERU, 1ST PLACE
• 2019 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, GWANGJU, SOUTH KOREA, 1ST PLACE
• 2019 FINA WORLD LEAGUE SUPER FINAL, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY, 1^ST PLACE
• 2017 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY, 1^ST PLACE
• 2017 FINA WORLD LEAGUE SUPER FINAL, SHANGHAI, CHINA, 1^ST PLACE
• 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES, RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, 1^ST PLACE
• 2016 FINA WORLD LEAGUE SUPER FINAL, SHANGHAI, CHINA, 1^ST PLACE
• 2016 OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENT, GOUDA, NETHERLANDS, 1^ST PLACE
• 2016 FINA WOMEN'S INTERCONTINENTAL TOURNAMENT, LEWISVILLE, TX, 1^ST PLACE
• 2015 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, KAZAN, RUSSIA, 1^ST PLACE
• 2015 PAN AMERICAN GAMES, TORONTO, CANADA, 1^ST PLACE
• 2015 FINA WORLD LEAGUE SUPER FINAL, SHANGHAI, CHINA, 1^ST PLACE
• 2015 FINA INTERCONTINENTAL TOURNAMENT, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND, 1^ST PLACE
• 2014 FINA YOUTH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, MADRID, SPAIN, 1^ST PLACE
• 2014 FINA INTERCONTINENTAL TOURNAMENT, RIVERSIDE, CA, 2^ND PLACE
• 2013 UANA JUNIOR PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA, 1^ST PLACE

FUN FACTS
Instagram:maddiemusselman
Twitter:@maddiemusselman
 
What was the moment you knew you wanted to represent your country in the Olympic Games?Was it always in the sport of water polo?
After watching the 2008 Olympic Games with my swim team coaches when I was 10 years old I had a dream of being an Olympian. I remember my dream of being an Olympic water polo player specifically becoming a goal of mine when I started the Olympic Development Program that next summer. 
What is your hidden talent?
I can wiggle my ears.
What is your favorite karaoke song?
“Defying Gravity” from the musical Wicked
If you could compete in another sport during the Olympic Games what would it be and why?
Beach volleyball.
What is one thing you have to have with you when you travel?
It’s a secret.
Biggest superstition if you have one?
Knock on wood.
What is your biggest fear?
The dark.
What causes are most dear to your heart?
“Skip a Straw, Save a Turtle.” I support anything that benefits sea turtles! 
What are two truths and a lie about you?
I did Girl Scouts.
I have never broken a bone.
I eat with my left hand but write with my right hand.
Do you have a nickname? How did you get it?
My family calls me MaddieCakes/Cakers. Teammates call me Mussels.
What song would be included on your life's soundtrack?
“My Wish” by Rascal Flatts.
What advice would you give your younger self, and what would you remind your older self?
Be open minded and keep it simple.
 
Etc.: So thankful for my family and friends for their unconditional love and support.