NEWS

Valentina Tarazona has once again made history, securing back-to-back victories in the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship with Buena Vibra. This time, the win was even more special as she played alongside her sister, Giuliana “Giugiu” Tarazona, making the achievement a true family milestone. At just 14 years old, Tarazona continues to build her career in women’s polo, showing impressive skill and composure on the field.

Her journey in polo has been remarkable. In 2023, she became the youngest player to compete in the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship, stepping in as a substitute at 12 years old. Since then, she has steadily progressed, earning recognition as a promising young player. Driven by a strong desire to improve, Tarazona has already achieved a major goal by winning the most prestigious women’s polo tournament in the United States—twice.

Now, her focus shifts to the Women of Wellington (WOW) Polo Series, where she continues to compete in Florida’s highly competitive season. Each match, she gains more experience, refining her skills against top players. Looking ahead, Tarazona’s ultimate dream remains clear—to reach a 10-goal handicap and one day win the Women’s Argentine Open.

Valentina, you won the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship again. How does it feel?
“It feels amazing. To win two times in a row is a huge blessing and I’m so happy that I was able to play and win again, but this time with Giugiu and Candelaria "Cande" [Fernandez-Araujo].

This year your sister joined the team; why didn’t she do so last year?
“When I was little, my dream had always been to be the youngest to play and win the Open. Last year, when I was 13, my parents decided to put in a team to help me achieve this. My sister, knowing this was my dream, was very helpful, lending me all of her horses and helping with the team.”

What changed from last year to this year?
“Last year we played with Clara Cassino and Cory Williams. This year we added Giugiu and Cande. With both Cande and Milly on the team, I became the third man and was helping them more with taking out the man and also going for passes.”

What can you tell us about the final?
“The final was extremely difficult. I think it was the most stressful game of my life. Hope [Arellano]* is one of the quickest and toughest players ever. She and Fati[ma Balzano] were dominating the first half of the game, making passes to each other and creating amazing plays. Pam[ela Flanagan Devaleix] and Naomi [Tachibana Marlough] were warriors, taking out the defenders and making room for Hope and Fati to work. We were making unnecessary fouls and rushing, which caused us to make mistakes. At halftime, with the help of our many coaches, we were able to change our strategy, which led us to victory.”

What can you tell us about your team Buena Vibra, and your history in polo?
“I don’t come from a polo family. My mom and Gato don’t have anything to do with horses. Ever since we were little, Giugiu loved horses. When we were little, Giugiu told my parents how she wanted to play polo. At first, I didn’t like polo, and I would spend each lesson riding and having fun with the horses while Giugiu would stick and ball. When I was around 8 years old, I took my first lesson and fell in love with the sport. I’ve been playing ever since then. Buena Vibra was created to help me achieve my dream of being the youngest girl to ever play and win the Open. The team was named Buena Vibra because we believe that, win or lose, you need to have fun and have the ‘Buena Vibra.’”

What do you think about women’s polo in the United States?
“I think that women’s polo in the United States is growing tremendously. There are so many more tournaments now than when I started to play a couple of years ago. I love that the USPA added the Gold Cup and that there may be a possibility to create a Gauntlet of Polo for women here in Wellington. I would love to see 40-goal women’s tournaments like in Argentina. I can’t wait to see what women’s polo will become over the years.”

What are your dreams after winning the U.S. Open Women’s Championship twice?
“After winning the U.S. Open Women’s Championship twice, my dreams are to one day become a 10-goal player and also to win the Argentine Women’s Open.”

Photos courtesy of ©David Lominska.