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Rio Grande Valley’s Sosa Sisters Make ODP Water Polo History

By Alex Ellison

Paloma Sosa and Pamela Sosa made history for South Texas last month, becoming the first athletes from the Rio Grande Valley to earn selection to a USA Water Polo Olympic Development Program (ODP) team.

The sisters competed for Southwest Zone – South Red at the 2026 ODP Regional Championships held in Dallas, Texas. Paloma capped up in the Girls Youth division (ages 15-17) while Pamela played in the Girls Cadet division (ages 13-14). Their selections marked a breakthrough moment for a region that has historically had little exposure and limited access to high-level club water polo opportunities.

“Being the first RGV athletes ever selected to an ODP team means making history for the Rio Grande Valley,” Paloma said. “It shows that athletes from our area can compete at a high level and be recognized outside our region. It’s not just a personal achievement; it represents our whole community and opens the door for more RGV athletes in the future.”

The sisters first started playing water polo in middle school when they were introduced to the sport to prepare for high school. The competitive practices, the team spirit, and the supportive environment made the Sosas keep coming back.

“I surrounded myself with the sport by attending games, improving my swimming and ball-handling skills, and learning from higher-level players,” said Paloma. “Setting goals, building strong friendships with teammates who shared my passion, and studying strategies from watching advanced games made me more confident, motivated, and dedicated.”

Both sisters attend PSJA Early College High School and train under head coach Jon Landero at RGV Aquatics, who has helped develop their games despite the challenges of growing the sport in the Rio Grande Valley. With a lack of club options in the area, Paloma says Landero made every practice count by always pushing them to work hard and never settle for being average.

“To play any club games we typically have to travel a minimum of three to four hours, and that’s relatively recent, it used to be five to six hours,” Coach Landero said. “To see the Sosas get chosen to be and play amongst the best in Texas is a testament of their hard work, determination, and raw talent.”

“[My coaches] focused on fundamentals, conditioning, and game awareness,” Paloma explained. “They believed in me and reminded me that being from the RGV doesn’t limit how far I can go. Their support, guidance, and high expectations helped me be ready when this opportunity came.”

Paloma and Pamela’s rise to the ODP level speaks to a dedication and a belief that elite opportunities were possible. Their success places them among the region’s all-time standouts and opens the door for future athletes from the Valley to dream bigger.

“Competing against athletes from other regions pushed me to step up my game and prove that athletes from the RGV can compete with anyone,” said Paloma. “It was exciting to challenge myself against new competition and realize that all the hard work I put in actually prepared me for that level.”

By breaking through at the national development level, the Sosa sisters gained valuable experience in the pool and hope to be selected for the upcoming 2026 ODP National Championships in Northern California next month.

“The Sosas making the ODP team is a great step forward that paves the way for others in our area,” Coach Landero said. “The barriers the Rio Grande Valley face are endless. It has always been a personal goal to get our players there, so this filled me with pride.”