Mourning the loss of Pat Woepse, a former water polo player at UCLA
Oct 28th 2024
S&R Sport extends our deepest sympathies to Maddie Musselman and her family during this incredibly difficult time. U.S. women’s water polo star Maddie Musselman Woepse is mourning the loss of her husband, Pat, who passed away on October 10, 2024, from a rare form of lung cancer at the age of 31.
Pat Woepse was diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer called NUT carcinoma in September 2023. Pat, a former water polo player, achieved his goal of attending the Paris Olympics to support the love of his life Maddie Musselman.
In an emotional Instagram post, Maddie, 26, remembered Pat as “the light of my life and my person.” She wrote, “He was my first love and the best husband I could have ever asked for. He opened my heart up to what love is and looks like, and I will forever do my best to love as hard as Patrick loved from this day forward. He was a true blessing from God.”
Pat grew up in Southern California and played water polo at UCLA; he was part of the Bruins' national championships team in 2014 and 2015. His former teammates visited him in the hospital as they celebrated the 10th anniversary of their championship team.
Maddie and Pat's love story began at the wedding of fellow UCLA players Kodi Hill and Ryder Roberts in January 2022. Their bond grew through their shared faith and passion for the sport of water polo. Pat often described himself as “very lucky” to be in a relationship with Maddie, a two-time Olympic gold medalist.
In her tribute to Pat, Maddie wrote, “I know Pat is looking down and smiling with that perfect smile of his. He is definitely overjoyed to be running and swimming around all freely up in heaven. ... I promised him I would keep living life with him as my angel, guiding and motivating me, and never ever forgetting the ways he has made my life amazing.”
As the water polo community and beyond mourn the loss of Pat, we send our heartfelt condolences to Maddie and her family.
