Nioka Thomas, UC Irvine Women's Water Polo Player of the Week  Sophomore • Center • Sydney, Australia

• UC Irvine center Nioka Thomas compiled 15 goals, with a hat trick in all four games and leading the Anteaters to a 3-1 record, to win The Big West Women's Water Polo Player of the Week award. Thomas is a first-time Big West weekly honoree.

• The sophomore scored three goals as UC Irvine routed California Baptist 20-6 Friday. In the second game of the day, Thomas put away four goals as the Anteaters set a new program-record for goals in a game with a 24-7 win. 

• The Sydney, Australia native logged four goals and one assist against No. 19 Pacific and another four goals against Fresno Pacific on Saturday. 

• UC Irvine is 4-2 to start the 2023 season. 

Also Nominated: Anne de Kleer (Long Beach State), Leigh Lyter (UC Santa Barbara), Sophia Noble (UC Davis);

2023 Big West Women's Water Polo Weekly Winners