Women’s polo has produced one of the finals of the winter. On Friday 23 February, Buena Vibra beat 90210 Polo 13-11 in the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship at the National Polo Center in Wellington, Florida, and claimed their first title in the event.
The final
The match was played on Field One at the USPA National Polo Center after a tournament that began on 3 February, with qualifying rounds at Port Mayaca Polo Club. It was a close game and Buena Vibra had to work for every goal against a 90210 side that included Mia Cambiaso, one of the most exciting young players in the sport.
Milly Hine was the key figure. She scored ten of her team’s 13 goals, was named Most Valuable Player and captained the winning side. Hine, who was clearly delighted, described the win as an absolute dream. The Buena Vibra side also included Cory Williams and Valentina Tarazona, who at only 13 years old was the youngest player on a winning team.
A bigger field than before
Eight teams entered this year, which the organisers say is the most in several years. They played with handicaps between 18 and 22 goals, divided into two groups before the knockout stage. Some of the best-known names in women’s polo took part, including Hope Arellano, Nina Clarkin and Hazel Jackson, all rated at ten goals, and Lía Salvo, who plays off nine. The defending champions were La Fe, who had won the previous year’s event.
Charity and coverage
U.S. Polo Assn., the title sponsor, donated to the charities nominated by the finalists. Buena Vibra picked Replay Polo and 90210 chose Work to Ride, and the sponsor also supplied uniforms bearing its logo. The final was scheduled for broadcast on ESPN News a few days later, which is another sign of how much the profile of the women’s game has grown.
Why it matters
We think the Women’s Open has become one of the best fixtures of the American winter, with a standard of polo that would not look out of place in the men’s high-goal events. Players such as Hine, Arellano and Salvo are among the leading names in the women’s game, and it is good to see them given a proper stage.
The men’s season in Wellington is now in full flow, with the C.V. Whitney Cup final played at the weekend and the USPA Gold Cup next.
Sources: Newswire (U.S. Polo Assn. release), PoloHUB
