This article presents the national team appearances in the women's Olympic water polo tournament since the inaugural official edition in 2000.
As of 2016, Thirteen women's national water polo teams from five continents have competed at the Summer Olympics. Four teams have won all five tournaments. The inaugural winners in 2000 were Australia; the current champions are United States. The most successful team is currently United States women's team, who has won the Olympic title on two occasions.
Abbreviations
Team statistics
Comprehensive team results by tournament
Debut of teams
Last updated: 24 January 2021.
Legend
Team* – Host team
Number of appearances by team
Results of host teams
Last updated: 7 August 2021.
Legend and abbreviation
Year* – As host team
Finish‡ – It is the best performance of the team
Apps – Appearances
Results of defending champions and runners-up
Last updated: 7 August 2021.
Legend
Team* – Host team
Best finishes by team
Finishes in the top four
Medal table
Longest active appearance droughts
The following table is pre-sorted by number of Olympic tournaments missed (in descending order), year of the last appearance (in ascending order), name of the team (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 7 August 2021.
Notes: Does not include teams that have not yet made their first appearance at the Olympics or teams that no longer exist.
Legend
Year* – As host team
Longest appearance droughts overall
The following table is pre-sorted by number of Olympic tournaments missed (in descending order), year of the previous appearance (in ascending order), name of the team (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 7 August 2021.
Notes: Only includes droughts begun after a team's first appearance and until the team ceased to exist. With the exception of 1916, 1940 and 1944, does not include droughts when the Olympic tournament was not held due to World War I and II.
Legend
Year* – As host team
Team† – Defunct team
Team records
Teams having equal quantities in the tables below are ordered by the tournament the quantity was attained in (the teams that attained the quantity first are listed first). If the quantity was attained by more than one team in the same tournament, these teams are ordered alphabetically. Last updated: 7 August 2021.
Legend
Year* – As host team
Appearances
Most appearances 6, Australia, United States (have participated in every tournament). Most appearances, never winning a title 5, Russia (has participated in every tournament). Most appearances, never finishing in the top two 5, Russia (has participated in every tournament). Most appearances, never winning a medal 4, China (2008*, 2012, 2016, 2020). Most appearances, never finishing in the top four 4, China (2008*, 2012, 2016, 2020). Fewest appearances 1, Great Britain (2012*), Brazil (2016*), Japan (2020*), ROC (2020), South Africa (2020). Fewest appearances, winning a title 3, Netherlands (2008). Fewest appearances, finishing in the top two 2, Greece (2004*). Fewest appearances, winning a medal 2, Greece (2004*). Fewest appearances, finishing in the top four 2, Greece (2004*).