Friendship of New Zealanders Millie Quin and Sophie Shorter-Robinson sparking ASU water polo

TEMPE – New Zealand is known for rugby, stunning landscapes, unique culture, sheep, strict biological security, and Americans mixing up the city of Queenstown (in New Zealand) with the Australian state of Queensland (definitely not in New Zealand) on a map. 

A pair of ASU Kiwis want to make New Zealand known for something else: water polo. 

Seniors Sophie Shorter-Robinson and Millie Quin first met each other at a high school water polo team bonding event in 2018 during Quin’s freshman year at the Diocesan School for Girls in Auckland. 

“I remember her being shy and very quiet back then and she always says she used to be scared of me,” Shorter-Robinson said. “(It’s) funny to see how our friendship has grown since then.”

They played together in high school and on a club team before making the senior New Zealand national team. When it came time for college, both Quin and Shorter-Robinson had their eyes set on the U.S. Quin first committed to Cal while Shorter-Robinson chose ASU. 

Shorter-Robinson found a home in Tempe right away, scoring 25 goals in 22 games during her freshman season in 2023. During her four seasons in Tempe she’s potted 173 goals and added 17 assists. 

“I chose ASU because of the coaching staff, the team culture and the balance of academics and sports together,” Shorter-Robinson said. “I knew it was a place I could grow and thrive both in and out of the water.” 

Quin, however, had a tougher go in Berkeley. 

“At the start, it was pretty overwhelming. I think I focused on the status of the school and how good the water polo was,” Quin said. She admitted she found out there was more to choosing the right school for her the second time, saying, “I think with my second time around I really knew what it was that I wanted.”

For Quin, the 24-5 Sun Devils have been the perfect fit. 

In her third season in Tempe, Quin became the all-time leading scorer and points leader in Sun Devil history. Her career tally reads 270 goals and 96 assists (does not include the 2026 Triton Invitational for which stats were not kept).

Quin also sits third all-time on the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation conference career goals scored list with 289 after scoring last week against Indiana. 

She’ll have a chance to add to those totals with the MPSF conference championships starting Friday when the No. 5 Sun Devils take on No. 4 Cal at the Spieker Aquatics Complex in Berkeley. 

“It’s a huge privilege but when I think about it I don’t see it as an individual accolade,” Quin said. “I couldn’t have done it without my teammates, the coaches and the support from ASU. I’m super grateful for all the support that’s gone into being able to get me there.”

ASU coach Petra Pardi recruited both Quin and Shorter-Robinson to Tempe, and has watched their connection and friendship grow both in and out of the water.

“I think they believe they are actually sisters,” Pardi said with a laugh. “I think they can read each other’s minds at this point. It looks nice in the water, but also outside of the water, they can just talk to each other just looking at each other. They’re very close.”

The “sisters” are looking at opportunities to play together in Europe after they graduate. 

“She’s just someone that you can really depend on,” Quin said. “We’ve been through a lot of stages of our lives together. We’ve been able to grow up and mature and kind of see each other in all states. I think she’s the perfect person to continue this experience with and I’m really excited to see where that takes us.”

Shorter-Robinson shared the sentiment, saying, “We are pretty much a package deal at this point.

“Our relationship has definitely grown over these last few years here at ASU and I couldn’t be more grateful for our friendship. We have been playing together since we were younger and know each other so well in and out of the water so it would be really special to continue that on after ASU.”

Their time in Europe would look to serve as a stepping stone for one day representing Aotearoa (the Māori name for New Zealand) in the Olympics. 

“I want to continue playing at that high level and the Olympics is kind of set in our sights, so that would be a great pathway to keep training and playing at a high level,” Quin said.

Right now, however, they still have goals they hope to accomplish at ASU and are leading by example as they chase them. 

“As seniors on the team, I think especially with the nine freshmen that we have this year, they’ve set a really great standard of the level of work required day in and day out,” Pardi said. “They’re demanding a crazy amount of work from everyone else around them, but they’re also willing to put in that work so it makes everybody else want to follow along.”

The chance to be leaders on the team is an opportunity Quin and Shorter-Robinson relish.

“Millie and I have grown as players throughout our time here at ASU but most importantly as individuals and leaders,” Shorter-Robinson said. “I think that has been something really special this year that we both have really tried to step into leadership roles and be people that the team can turn to both in and out of the water.”

Quin and Shorter-Robinson know they wouldn’t be the players or people they are today without their time at ASU. 

“I couldn’t be more grateful to have been a part of such a special and unique program,” Shorter-Robinson said. “The support systems and relationships I have developed over these years will last a lifetime and it will be hard to leave that behind.”

Quin agreed, calling her time in Tempe one of the most fulfilling stages in her life.

“(I’m) super grateful for all the friendships and relationships I’ve been able to build here,” she said. “I’ve been able to develop not just as a player but as a person. It’s definitely been the best experience of my life and I couldn’t recommend it (more) to anyone else.”

As the calendar enters mid-April, the Sun Devils embark on the most important part of the season. The MPSF conference championships run this weekend at Quin’s former school in Berkeley. That sets the table for the Sun Devils to reach their ultimate goal and make a run in the NCAA National Collegiate Women’s Water Polo Championship in San Diego April 24-26. 

“Making NCAAs this time around and getting inside that top four is a goal,” Quin said. “It’s been a really great group. It’s definitely been my favorite team to be a part of since my time here at ASU. I think what helps is that we’re all on the same team and we all have a common goal which is (to be) inside that top four and upsetting some of those big teams.”

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