The Cal women's water polo team is headed to the NCAA Championships for the fifth time in six years, earning the No. 4 seed for the tournament May 10-12 at Stanford's Avery Aquatic Center.

The Bears are making their seventh all-time appearance in the NCAA Championships and have advanced to at least the semifinals in every tournament in which they have participated. Cal's best finish was as the runner-up in 2011.

The Bears went 16-8 during the 2019 regular season, rising has high as No. 3 in the national rankings before finishing the year at No. 4. Cal finished in fourth place in the MPSF standings, and the top-four seeds in the NCAA Championships are the top four teams in the conference.

The Bears had one of the toughest schedules in the nation this season. All but two of their opponents were nationally ranked and they registered seven wins over top-10 teams. Three of those victories were against top-5 opponents.

Cal is led by junior Emma Wright, a two-time All-American and 2019 All-MPSF First Team pick who ranks second in the MPSF at 2.95 goals per game. Senior goalie Madison Tagg was a All-MPSF Second Team pick after leading the conference in saves per game in MPSF matches.

The Bears will open the tournament against No. 5 Hawai'I on May 10 at 1:45 p.m. PT. Cal went 2-1 against the Rainbow Wahine during the regular season, with all three games being decided by two goals or less.