January 29, 2024
The United States Polo Association (USPA) and the National Polo Center (NPC) announce the teams that will compete in the 2024 Women’s Open Polo Championship, presented by the Brad and Kathy Coors Foundation,
The 2024 competition will be hosted by Port Mayaca Polo Club (PMPC) in Okeechobee, Florida. Preliminary games will take place at PMPC with the final slated for Sunday, February 18 at 3:00pm ET on U.S. Polo Assn. Field One at the National Polo Center – Wellington. Spectating from the NPC stadium, Pavilion brunch and fieldside tailgates all overlooking U.S. Polo Assn. Field One is an unparalleled experience available for the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship final. Tickets can be purchased at nationalpolocenter.com.
This year’s edition of the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship presented by the Brad and Kathy Coors Foundation will feature many familiar faces and past champions spanning eight talented teams including 90210 Polo, BTA/Lazy 3, Buena Vibra, Iconica, La Fe, Mint Eco Car Wash, Parrotheads Polo and Work to Ride/Grand Champions. The draw took place on Saturday, January 27, to determine the brackets and schedule for the elite competition. The U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship with sponsorship from the Brad and Kathy Coors Foundation will award $25,000 in prize money. “We wish to encourage other families to join us and donate to support the growth of women athletes in the world of polo,” said event sponsor Kathy Coors. In addition to the prize money, U.S. Polo Assn. will continue to encourage the spirit of philanthropy by providing $2,500 to both the winning team and the runner-up to donate to the polo charity of their choice.
Reigning victors, 10-goalers and former U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship Most Valuable Player recipients Hope Arellano and Hazel Jackson will team up once more for La Fe for the second year in a row. Jackson seeks her fifth U.S. Open victory (2016, 2018, 2022, 2023) while teammate Arellano will be in search of her third (2017, 2023). Fellow champion Winifred Branscum will continue her steady rise in women’s polo alongside four-time (2011, 2013, 2014, 2015) victor Maureen Brennan for Iconica. 2023 finalist Mia Cambiaso will attempt to earn her fourth (2019, 2020, 2022) U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship title joining 90210 Polo, as the competition’s third 10-goaler Nina Clarkin will captain Work to Ride/Grand Champions.
BTA/Lazy 3’s Sarah Wiseman will seek to add to her impressive U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship record, vying for her fifth (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017) title, as Mint Eco Car Wash’s Kylie Sheehan looks for a return to the podium for the first time since 2021. Former champion Lia Salvo (2017) will attempt to deliver Parrotheads Polo their first victory. Sisters Sophie and Maddie Grant will return to compete separately after playing together for BTA in the 2023 tournament; this year, Sophie will play for Parrotheads Polo while Maddie will represent Work to Ride/Grand Champions.
New to the competition in 2024 is Shariah Harris from the illustrious Work to Ride program, who will be making her U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship debut playing for Work to Ride/Grand Champions. After serving as a substitute during the 2023 tournament, Valentina Tarazona is stepping into a full-time role as a member of Buena Vibra; the newcomers will round out the impressive field as the tournament’s latest team addition.
Representing Team USPA are Active Members Hope Arellano (La Fe) and Sophie Grant (Parrotheads Polo) alongside alumna Kylie Sheehan (Mint Eco Car Wash). Team USPA is a USPA program designed to enhance and grow the sport of polo in the United States by identifying young, talented American players and providing mentored training and playing opportunities leading to a pool of higher-rated amateur and pro players and the resultant giveback to the sport of polo.
See below for the full list of team rosters to date**:
Bracket I
- Mint Eco Car Wash (22) – Malia Bryan (5), Cecelia Cochran (4), Kylie Sheehan (5)*, Isabelle “Izzy” Parson (8)
- La Fe (22) – Naomi Tachibana Marlough (1), Hanan Fadil (1), Hope Arellano (10)*, Hazel Jackson (10)
- Parrotheads Polo (22) – Roni Duke (2), Sophie Grant (5)*, Fatima Balzano (6), Lia Salvo (9)
- 90210 Polo (21) – Sarah Siegel-Magness (2), Meghan Gracida (4), Mia Cambiaso (8), Catalina Lavinia (7)
Bracket II
- Work to Ride/Grand Champions (22) – Caitlin Cregg (3), Shariah Harris (3), Maddie Grant (6), Carina “Nina” Clarkin (10)
- Iconica (22) – Maureen Brennan (5), Luisa Del Carril (5), Candelaria Fernandez-Araujo (9), Winifred Branscum (3)
- Buena Vibra (21) – Valentina Tarazona (1), Cory Williams (4), Clara Seppe (8), Milly Hine (8)
- BTA/Lazy 3 (21) – Jordan Fikes (3), KC Krueger (6), Anna Palacios (5), Sarah Wiseman (7)
**All rosters are subject to change.
Bracket play will consist of four chukkers. Teams will play all other teams within their bracket, for a total of three games. After bracket play, teams will be ranked one through four within the bracket. The first and second place teams will advance to the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship semifinals. Semifinal play will consist of five chukkers. The third and fourth place ranked teams will advance to the Florida Women’s Open. The winners of the semifinals will advance to the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship final, to be played with six chukkers.
All U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship games will be broadcast exclusively by the USPA Polo Network. Livestreamed games will be available on uspolo.org as well as across multiple USPA social media platforms including Facebook, X and YouTube. To learn more about 2024 livestreaming on the USPA Polo Network, please click here. Additionally, the final will be available on the ESPN family of brands. Check your local listings for times and channels.
For the full U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship schedule, please visit the Tournament Detail Page.
–