**Flavor Flav Supports U.S. Women’s Water Polo in Olympic Quest**

– Rapper Flavor Flav has signed a five-year sponsorship deal to promote the U.S. women’s and men’s national water polo teams, bringing unexpected attention to the sport.
– The collaboration began when Maggie Steffens, the women’s team captain, highlighted the challenges athletes face on social media, calling for support in women’s sports. Flav responded by pledging his support.
– Flav announced he would give $1,000 to each athlete and provide a cruise trip for the team, promising to cheer them on as they aim for a fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal in Paris—an unprecedented achievement in water polo.
– Head coach Adam Krikorian expressed gratitude for the increased visibility, stating the team often goes unnoticed despite its success and accomplishments in recent championships.
– Steffens, a veteran player, noted the importance of inspiring younger athletes and spoke about the bonds formed within the team, which includes several first-time Olympians.
– The U.S. women’s water polo team has won gold in the last three Olympics and six of the last nine world championships but aims to focus on teamwork and growth rather than just outcomes.
– With the financial pressures faced by athletes in an expensive market like Southern California, Steffens hopes for a future where players can afford to continue their careers without needing additional jobs.
– Flavor Flav’s participation signifies a broader push to attract celebrities and sponsorships to support Olympic athletes, showing the potential for positive change in how sports like water polo are funded and recognized.