23/08/2026
Congratulations to Caro and the U18 Aussie Stingers - World Champions 🏆🏆🏆
CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD — AUSSIE JUNIOR STINGERS
What an incredible tournament. What an incredible team. And what a way to become WORLD CHAMPIONS.
The Aussie Junior Stingers have conquered the world, defeating defending champions Spain 9–5 in a magnificent World Championship final built on courage, discipline, defence and an unwavering belief in each other.
Australia didn’t just win the final, they produced a defensive masterclass when it mattered most.
Spain arrived as the defending champions and one of the most complete teams in the tournament, but Australia refused to allow them to dictate the contest.
Every Spanish attack was met with pressure. Every pass was challenged. Every drive was tracked. Every player committed herself to the defensive effort.
And behind it all was Caroline Healy, simply outstanding in the Australian goal.
Healy produced one of the performances of the tournament, making 9 saves from 13 shots for a remarkable 69.2% save rate. In a World Championship final, against Spain, that is an extraordinary performance.
But this victory belonged to the entire team.
From Connors, Oates, McCarthy, Booth, McEwan, Cooke and captain Mironova, through to Hoefel, Walker, Daly, Paul, O’Connor and O’Neill, every member of this squad has played a role in Australia’s journey to the top of the world.
The scoring in the final reflected that collective effort. Australia didn’t need to rely on one player to carry them. They found goals across the team while maintaining relentless pressure at the other end of the pool.
McCarthy was perfect with 2 from 2, Paul delivered 2 from 2, Daly scored 2 from 4, while Connors, Mironova and Hoefel also converted.
Nine goals. Five conceded. World champions.
And enormous credit must go to head coach Fabio Pavanello and his staff.
Tournament water polo is about far more than tactics. It is about preparing a group physically and mentally to keep performing as the pressure rises.
Pavanello had his team ready for the biggest game of their young careers, and Australia saved one of its finest performances for the moment that mattered most.
There were stars throughout this tournament, but perhaps the greatest strength of these Junior Stingers was that they became something bigger than any individual.
They defended together. They attacked together. They absorbed pressure together. And when the final siren sounded, they celebrated together.
Spain were the defending champions.
Australia are the WORLD CHAMPIONS.
A historic achievement for these young women, their coaches, their families and Australian water polo.
The Aussie Junior Stingers have reached the top of the world and they did it together. 🇦🇺🏆
