Green goes great in worlds debut
NSW Institute of Sport's water polo program head coach Jacki Northam predicted Green would be "a player to watch … ready to unleash on the world"
After winning an Australian Water Polo League title with the University of Sydney Lions in 2021, talented Jewish teen Sienna Green captained the national U18 girls’ team, before earning her first cap for the Australian women’s team, the Stingers, in 2022.
Following a 2023 US college season for UCLA in which she shone not only as a central defender but also as an increasingly effective presence in attack – scoring 39 goals in 29 games – Green, 19, was rewarded with selection as the youngest member of the Stingers’ 2024 world championships squad.
NSW Institute of Sport’s water polo program head coach Jacki Northam predicted Green would be “a player to watch … ready to unleash on the world” as she went into her debut worlds this month in Doha.
Northam wasn’t wrong.
The 193cm tall utility played in all of the Stingers’ seven games, effectively marking some of the world’s best attackers, while scoring nine goals herself, helping the Aussies finish sixth overall.
Green particularly showed her class – earning praise from the match commentators – when scoring two goals in quick succession in a thrilling 9-10 quarter-final loss to reigning Olympic champions USA.
Green’s parents, Tessa and Antony, are both former water polo players, and the latter told The AJN that Green arrived back home on Monday night feeling a little jetlagged, but very pleased to have had the opportunity to contribute to the team in every match.
Green has opted to defer her studies for six months so that if selected again for the Stingers she can make her Olympics debut, which would be a dream come true.
Also in contention for selection in the Stingers’ squad, although not travelling to Doha, is Jewish player and fellow Sydneysider Ruby Swadling.
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