Courtney Mathewson

Born on September 14, 1986, in Orange, California, Courtney Mathewson established herself as a formidable water polo player from an early age. She attended Canyon High School in Anaheim Hills, where she was a four-year letterwinner in both water polo and swimming, earning All-CIF and All-Century League accolades throughout her high school career. Mathewson was recognized with All-America honors in 2003 and 2004, and as first-team All-Orange County as a senior. Her early career also included participation with the SoCal club water polo team, contributing to second-place finishes with the 2003 Junior National and Senior National teams. These early experiences laid the foundation for her successful collegiate and international career.

Mathewson enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she majored in sociology and played a pivotal role in the UCLA Bruins women’s water polo team’s unprecedented success. Between 2005 and 2008, she helped lead the Bruins to four consecutive NCAA National Championship titles. Her senior year in 2008 was particularly distinguished, as she scored 54 goals in 33 matches with a team-leading 58% shooting rate, earning her the prestigious Peter J. Cutino Award as the nation’s top collegiate female water polo player. She also received NCAA Division I Player of the Year honors from the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches and was named MPSF Co-Player of the Year. Her transition from college to the USA Women’s National Team saw her continue her winning streak, securing numerous international titles.

From 2010 to 2016, Mathewson was a vital member of the USA Women’s National Team, earning a reputation for her perimeter accuracy and clutch performances. She helped the team win its first FINA World Cup crown in 31 years in 2010. A significant moment came in 2011 at the Pan American Games, where her three second-half goals in the gold-medal match against Canada forced a shootout, ultimately securing the team’s qualification for the 2012 Olympics. Mathewson then played a key role in the team winning its first Olympic title at the 2012 London Games. Her career culminated with a second Olympic gold medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, along with a 2015 FINA World Championship, a second Pan Am Games Gold, and six FINA World League titles. In 2021, she was inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame for her contributions to the sport.