FRESNO, Calif - The premier collegiate women's water polo tournament makes its return to the Central Valley as Fresno State is set to host its second annual Polopalooza, presented by Visit Fresno, at the Aquatics Center on January 17-19.
The tournament features seven teams that are all ranked inside the Top 20 of the preseason national team rankings. Over the three days, 12 games will be played at the Aquatics Center starting off on Friday the 17th with Fresno State taking on Michigan at 5 p.m.
"We are excited to host the second annual Polopalooza this year, which features an extremely competitive field and the highest level of water polo right here in the Central Valley," said head coach Natalie Benson. "We hope to provide our local community and our participating teams with a top-tier competitive experience, while also providing a festive atmosphere for participants and fans alike."
"Due to the devastating fires in the Los Angeles area, UCLA will not be in attendance this year. Our thoughts and support are with them and their families," added Benson. The Bulldogs were originally scheduled to play No. 1 UCLA on Saturday, but will now play No. 4 Cal that afternoon.
Fresno State has taken the Polopalooza to a new level in 2025, incorporating several on-site activities for fans to engage in at the facility between water polo games. These activities include bracelet making stations, tie dye stations, a live DJ, a game zone with yard games, a photo booth, face painting, and food vendors. Victor E. Bulldog and TimeOut, Fresno State's mascots, will both make appearances at the Polopalooza. The Fresno State water polo team will also be available for an autograph session on Saturday.
"While the games are being played in the Aquatics Center, music, crafts, local vendors, and food truck options will be available for fans and future fans," added Benson on the event's atmosphere. "We hope to make this event unlike any other in the country, offering online streams of all games for out-of-town fans to enjoy, and providing a place to celebrate our game."
Official Polopalooza T-shirts will be for sale at the venue.
Admission is $20 per day (child/senior/military are $15). Fresno State students get in free with their student I.D. Parking is free. Tickets will be sold at the gate.
The tournament central webpage can be found here. The tournament central will be updated daily with game results. A full schedule of on-site events can also be found on the tournament central page.