Tournament matches were played at the Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach, California during December 1990.

[1] California defeated Stanford in the final, 8–7, to win their ninth national title.

Coached by Steve Heaston, the Golden Bears finished the season 29–1.

As of 2024, UC Santa Barbara has not returned to the Water Polo playoffs.

They currently have a 34 year drought, the longest of any such team that has won a National Championship.