'You know I love the players': Taylor Swift and 'hype man' Flavor Flav back US women's water polo team ahead of Paris 2024
What do Swifties, Flavor Flav and the Olympic Games have in common? The answer: the United States women’s water polo team!
In a series of unexpected developments this month, the three-time Olympic champions and 2024 world champions found themselves receiving backing from not one, but two major music icons.
With Taylor Swift surprising the team with tickets to her Eras Tour and Flavor Flav stepping up to back the team as their official 'hype man', the US women’s water polo team is riding a wave of star-studded support as they prepare for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Discover how these unlikely partnerships came to be and what it means for the team’s road to Paris.
Taylor Swift to the US water polo team: “You belong with me”
When Taylor Swift sang "cause you know I love the players, and you love the game," she must have been talking about water polo, right?
The women's team was invited to Paris by France to participate in a water polo test event in May, where the Olympic champions beat their Olympic hosts 12-6. Team captain Maggie Steffens said: “For us to get a game here and play against France in France and get that home-crowd experience, it definitely brings that Olympic energy for us."
But the Olympic energy did not end there for the team’s trip to the 2024 host city.
While planning the trip, team manager Ally Beck discovered that Taylor Swift would be starting the second year of her record-breaking world tour in Paris. Beck decided to take a chance and reach out to Swift's team.
Taylor Swift soon made their wildest dreams come true, surprising the team with VIP tickets to her Eras Tour. Two of the team's most devoted Swifties are Denise Mammolito, the utility outside shooter, and Ava Johnson, the center.
Adding to the excitement, Taylor’s concert took place in the same arena where the US women will be competing for gold in the upcoming Olympic Games.
“There is no amount of times to say thank you," Beck told USA Today.
"Just seeing everybody light up, enjoy like the power that is Taylor and kind of getting to watch her in her element and then the extra layer of knowing she's rocking the La Défense arena and we're going to go for gold there in a couple of months, just the amount of inspiration we were able to draw from her is a whole other level."
This gesture was a heartfelt boost for Team USA, letting them shake it off a bit before gearing up to defend their title at Paris 2024. If the team wins a fourth gold in a row this summer, it will be the most consecutive gold medals in women's water polo history.
La Défense Arena is sure to be as packed for the final as it was for the Eras Tour.
Team USA captain Maggie Steffens asked for support; Flavor Flav answered the call
But Taylor Swift isn't the only music legend backing the US women's water polo team.
Rap legend Flavor Flav, known for rocking his iconic clock, has decided to become the official hype man for the team.
It all started on 4 May, when Flavor Flav's manager stumbled upon a social media post by triple Olympic champion Steffens. In her post, Steffens expressed her excitement for Paris 2024 and highlighted the financial struggles many female athletes face.
"Many of my teammates are not just champions but also juggle roles as teachers, business owners, coaches, physicians, and more," Steffens wrote.
“Some may not know this, but most Olympians need a 2nd (or 3rd) job to support chasing the dream (myself included!) and most teams rely on sponsors for travel, accommodations, nutritional support, rent/lodging, and simply affording to live in this day and age. Especially female sports and female athletes.”
Supporting this team is “more significant to me than winning a Grammy.”
Motivated by the post, Flavor Flav decided to give back, and so he slid in the comments:
“AYYY YOOO, as a girl dad and supporter of all women’s sports - imma personally sponsor you my girl, whatever you need. And imma sponsor the whole team. My manager is in touch with your agent and imma use all my relationships and resources to help all y’all even more. That’s a FLAVOR FLAV promise.” Flav commented under Steffen’s post.
"Honestly, I never imagined myself sponsoring a US Olympic team," Flavor Flav told NBC Olympics. "This is one of the greatest achievements of my life, beyond my musical accomplishments. Supporting a water polo team and aiding these athletes is even more significant to me than winning a Grammy.
“Women's water polo may not be as popular as basketball or football, but I want to see it grow because I enjoy watching it. That's why I decided to support these athletes. It's about giving back," he said.
"Water polo is my entire world," Steffens reacted. "Having a Hall of Famer like him acknowledge us, share our story, and empower our journey is truly spectacular."
Flavor Flav views his sponsorship of the women’s water polo team as a way to further spotlight women’s sports.
“I hope this sets a trend for more people to sponsor these teams," Flav said. "It’s a really positive thing to do. I just want to help people achieve their goals just like I achieved a lot of mine. I know what it feels like to want to have a chance."
'You won't see me in the water, but you’ll see me around the pool'
So Flavor Flav will be the team’s official hype man in Paris this summer.
“I plan to attend as many games as possible,” he said. "You won't see me in the water, but you’ll see me around the pool. I'm better at watching than participating."
Though he admits that he still has much to learn about water polo, witnessing the highest level in person should help him get up to speed.
With Flav confirming his attendance, one question remains: will Taylor Swift also join the team in the La Défense Arena, swapping roles to cheer on from the stands, or will it be a cruel summer? Only time will tell.
The US women’s water polo team aims to continue their gold medal streak at Paris 2024 having won the last three Olympic titles. They have been drawn in Group B, alongside Greece, Italy, Spain and hosts France.
Their opening match is against Greece on 27 July.
Related content