A bittersweet moment for Polish volleyball fans — Joanna Wołosz, the longtime captain and heart of the team, has officially confirmed that she won’t be coming back to the national squad. She had planned to retire after the Paris Olympics , and now it’s certain: her journey with the national team has come to an end. Her leadership, skill, and energy will be sorely missed on the court .
“I’ve always tried to be a woman of my word, and I’ve been thinking for a long time about when the right time would come to say ‘enough’ to my national team career. For me, the Olympics are the perfect way to close that chapter of my life.”
“I know there’s a World Championship this year, but I’m leaving the team in good hands. The girls have a great coach who’ll pull it all together, and I’ll be watching the matches from my couch with pride.”
“Maybe that door is locked with a key — and maybe the key is still in my pocket, not tossed away just yet — but I feel it’s time to move on.”
Wołosz is one of the most accomplished players in Polish volleyball history. Since 2017, she’s been a key player (and now a legend) at Italian club Imoco Volley Conegliano. On the international stage, she helped lead Poland to a Nations League bronze in 2024, among many other highlights. So it’s no surprise that fans were heartbroken to hear she’s stepping away from the national team.
— TVP Sport
