“Aussie Stingers’ recent victory holds immense significance as they aim for Olympic glory: ‘I could cry'”

The Aussie Stingers haven’t secured an Olympic quarterfinal win since London 2012. After remaining undefeated in their group stage in Paris, they now have every opportunity to change that.

For Alice Williams, one of the spiritual leaders of the Aussie Stingers, Sunday’s win over Hungary was an unforgettable moment. The 25-year-old scored four goals and successfully converted a penalty, helping the team secure a 14-12 victory in a thrilling shootout.

This win marked Australia’s fourth consecutive victory, ensuring they topped their group and avoided facing both Spain and the USA, as they aim to win their first Olympic quarterfinal since London 2012.

“I think I could cry; it was a very emotional game,” Williams said. “We knew going into it that winning or drawing would put us at the top of the pool, so there was always pressure. It’s definitely been a big week, especially with this being my first Olympics. It’s a different kind of pressure. But what keeps me grounded is how calm this team always is. We face any challenge head-on, and we’re always there for each other.”

The Stingers’ campaign began with significant adversity but has already surpassed their wildest expectations.

Five players tested positive for Covid just days before their opening game. In many teams, losing nearly half of the playing group would have led to panic and chaos.

However, this wasn’t the case for the Australian side, who have diligently focused on their processes, keeping their attention on the immediate tasks at hand.

“We just didn’t look ahead,” coach Bec Rippon said. “I didn’t even know what days we were playing; I just focused on staying present.”

“In that moment (after the Covid cases), we didn’t worry about it. We knew that the preparation we’d done beforehand would carry us through, and it wasn’t going to be determined by those last few days. If we hadn’t done that groundwork, then those things would have caused panic.

“It feels like that time was so long ago, even though it was only a week. But so much has happened since then.

“We wanted to start with a win against China and build momentum from there. But I guess I never imagined it would turn out like this, even in my wildest dreams.”

The Stingers now have a chance to build a legacy. The team made history in 2000 by winning gold in the inaugural women’s competition, but they haven’t won a medal since London. This new generation sees this as an opportunity to step out of the shadows and make their mark.

Their experience in winning two intense shootouts during the group stages gives them confidence in their ability to perform in crucial moments. “Absolutely, we’ve got nerves of steel,” Williams said. “It’s rare to have so many penalty shootouts in round games, but it just shows how competitive women’s water polo is. We’ve come out on top both times, which is amazing because it shows our team can keep it together. I think it gives us an advantage going into the finals, knowing that if it comes down to it, we can handle it.”