Among the West Valley women's water polo team's 2024 goals are its 7th consecutive undefeated Coast Conference title and its 2nd 3C2A state championship since 2021. To do so, the Vikings must battle through one of the toughest schedules in the state with a new coach and an almost equal mix of returning sophomores and promising newcomers.

3C2A Hall of Fame coach Bruce Watson, who won more than 600 games and six state championships in 31years as the WVC men's coach, returns to the deck as the new women's coach, replacing Erika Vargas, the new Dean of WVC's School of Health and Human Development. Watson inherets from Vargas an elite program that has six consecutive undefeated Coast championships (2018-2023), four straight NorCal titles (2019-2023), three 3rd-place state finishes (2019, 2022-23) and the 2021 state championship. He also inherits a team with five 20-plus goal scorers and a long-armed sophomore goalkeeper.

The 2024 17-game schedule features games against 13 2023 playoff squads, including a pair against two-time defending state champion Santa Barbara City. The docket starts with nine straight games against 2023 postseason teams, including state tourney teams Santa Barbara (9/6), Sierra (9/11) and Merced (9/20).

View the 2024 schedule. 

Watson's Vikings welcome back some potent offensive weapons. Bella Raynes (65), Anastasija Koreni (42), Sofia Orlandi Lazzarini (38), Marte Skibba (38) and Mia Sickler-Lopez (22) all found the back of the cage more than 20 times in 2023. Raynes also led the team in assists (48) and steals (53) and was 2nd in shooting (63.7%). Orlandi Lazzarini recorded 44 assists and snared 45 steals, while Koreni posted 28 assists and 50 steals.  Netminder Kayla Tweed went 20-5 in 2023 with 184 saves and a 48.5 save %.

Ten sophomores return in 2024 and welcome seven first-year players to Saratoga. Former Viking All-State and San Diego St. All-Mountain West goalkeeper Raquel De Pinho is back at WVC as Watson's assistant coach.