Buena Vibra beat La Fe Eastern Hay 12-9 and ran out the champions of the US Open Women’s Polo Championship, the most significant ladies polo tournament in the United States, after the final that was played on Sunday February 9, at the National Polo Center, in Wellington, Florida. The tournament saw six teams up to 22 goals (ladies handicap), partake. While the championship match took place at the NPC, the league phase was held at Port Mayaca Polo Club.

La Fe Eastern Hay dominated the first three chukkas, reaching a 7-5 advantage by half time. But in the fourth chukka, Buena Vibra took off, and by the end of the fifth chukka they were 9-8 up. The defending champions played a remarkable last chukka, outscoring their contenders 3-1, which led them to the 12-9 win, that allowed them to win the contest for the second consecutive year (in 2024, they defeated 90210 Polo in the final).

The US Open Women’s Polo Championship dates back to the 1930s, in California; the first Woment’s US Open Tournament was presented by the United States Women’s Polo Association (USWPA) was held  n 1937. The USWPA was the first polo association for women in the history of American polo, and created a women’s handicap system, mirroring that of the men. Women were officially admitted into the United States Polo Association (USPA), in the early 70s, most specifically in 1972, with women’s polo pioneer, Sue Sally Hale, becoming one of the first woman members. The current US Open Women’s Polo Championship resurfaced in the early 1990s, and was officialy recognized as a national tournament in 2011.

US OPEN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP – FINAL – SUNDAY FEBRUARY 9

BUENA VIBRA 12-9 LA FE EASTERN HAY

Buena Vibra: Guiliana Tanzona 2, Valentina Tarazona 2, Candelaria Fernández Araujo 9, Millie Hine 9. Total: 22.

La Fe Eastern Hay: Naomi Marlough 2, Pamela Flanagan 4, Hope Arellano 10, Fátima Balzano 6. Total: 22.

Score Buena Vibra: 1-2, 3-6, 5-7, 8-8, 9-8, 12-9.

Umpires: Martín Pascual & Julio Ezcurra.

Third man: Adrian Wade.

MVP: Candelaria Fernández Araujo.

BPP: Machitos Felpa, ridden by Candelaria Fernández Araujo.

US Open Women’s Polo Championship – Teams & Fixture

Cover photo by Agustina Fonda.