Aussie Stingers name world champs squad

With less than 200 days to go until the 2024 Paris Olympics, Water Polo Australia is pleased to announce the 15-strong Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers squad for the upcoming 2024 World Aquatics Championships which will be an important building block towards the Games.

To be held in Doha from 2-18 February 2024, the World Aquatics Championships will be the first major international hit out for the Stingers in the 2024 Olympic year.

Eight New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holders: Zoe Arancini, Keesja Gofers, Sienna Green, Bronte Halligan, Sienna Hearn, Danijela Jackovich, Tilly Kearns (pictured), and Genevieve Longman were named in the squad.

Last year the Aussie Stingers narrowly missed the podium at the World Championships in Japan, finishing fourth place.  They are set to face Hungary, New Zealand and Singapore in the group stages of the tournament. 

“Even though it has only been a short time since the last World Championships, being so geographically far away from the rest of the world, it’s important for us to make the most of these opportunities to play against the best, and it also gives us a chance to see how we’ve developed since Fukuoka last year,” said Rippon.

“We’ve picked a team that has a great mix of experience and youth, and it’s time for us to go out there and put into practice in pressure situations what we’ve spent time refining in Queensland over the past couple of weeks.

“We’ve only got a short time now until the 2024 World Championships, but it’s an exciting time and I’m looking forward to it,” she said.

In the lead up to the World Championships the Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers will welcome Canada to Queensland for a training camp and test matches before flying to Doha. 

2024 World Championships Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers Squad

Abby Andrews (QLD)

Charlize Andrews (QLD)

Zoe Arancini (WA/NSW)

Tenealle Fasala (QLD)

Keesja Gofers (NSW)

Sienna Green (NSW)

Bronte Halligan (NSW)

Sienna Hearn (NSW)

Danijela Jackovich (NSW)

Tilly Kearns (NSW)

Bridget Leeson-Smith (QLD)

Genevieve Longman (WA/NSW)

Gabi Palm (QLD)

Sofie Pontre (WA)

Alice Williams (QLD)

Story and Tilly Kearns photograph courtesy of Water Polo Australia