Nicolle Payne

Nicolle Payne was a water polo goalkeeper who helped the United States win silver at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She was on the 2004 US Olympic team but did not get into any matches. Payne won gold medals at the 2003 World Aquatic Championships and Pan American Games.

Payne played in college at UCLA, being selected as NCAA Player of the Year as a freshman. She captained the Bruins’ teams from 1995-98 and played on NCAA Championship teams in 1996, 1997, and 1998. Payne graduated in 1998 with a degree in biology.

Payne later went into coaching, serving as an assistant coach for the US Junior National Team in 2001. She then became an assistant at UCLA. Payne was inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame in 2023, the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009, and the New York Athletic Club Hall of Fame in 2007.