Halligan named new Aussie Stingers skipper

Water Polo Australia is pleased to announce Olympic silver medalist Bronte Halligan as the new Aussie Stingers captain.

Halligan has been an integral part of the senior national team since her debut in 2014, with just short of 200 caps for Australia, two Olympic Games and nine World Aquatics medals – a career most recently highlighted by the silver medal performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. 

“I just feel absolutely elated to be able to lead this team. It’s such a young, inspiring bunch, and I’m so proud and motivated to keep continuing to grow with them and see what I can do, not just as a player, but as a captain,” Halligan said.

With outgoing captain Zoe Arancini calling time on her international career, a passing of the baton to Halligan has been part of the Tri Nations Test Match Series in Perth as part of the Stingers preparations for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships.

“It’s been really special to celebrate Zoe’s retirement – I got a bit emotional before the game. I’ve been in a team with her since I was a little young one,” Halligan said.

Having been in the team under the captaincy of four-time Olympian Bronwen Knox, three-time Olympian Rowie Webster and most recently Arancini, Halligan said she’ll take the learnings from each of them into her approach as captain.

“I’ve got some big shoes to fill with all my captains that I’ve seen through the roles, and I’d like to take a piece of each of them into my leadership,” Halligan said. 

“Zoe taught me so much about what it is to be a true leader of Aussie Stingers, and I hope that I can do her proud,” she said.

Halligan will lead the Stingers at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships, which gets underway in Singapore on Friday 11 July.