CN Sabadell breaks the silence and responds to Maica García, who accuses the club of kicking her out for being a mother

BarcelonaIt is difficult to dissociate the name of water polo player Maica García, Olympic champion, from the club of her life: CN Sabadell. It is even more difficult to imagine the outcome that one of the most successful stories in this sport in Catalonia has had. The specialist in the center-forward position began to cry during her presentation with her new club, CN Sant Andreu, when she explained the ordeal she has experienced in recent months, which will lead to a lawsuit against the Vallès entity. García stated that, after more than thirty years at CN Sabadell, she was forced to leave the institution when the club did not renew her contract upon her becoming pregnant, as required by law.

"My contract ended on August 31st, and during this time I did not receive any communication from the club. Last week, human resources called me and later I found the message from Social Security that they had deregistered me," she explained. García narrated how she has lived through the whole process: "I communicated the pregnancy to the club in January 2025. I took leave for occupational risk, but I continued to stay in shape. The club provided me with a physiotherapist, a physical trainer, and a specialist to work on the pelvic floor; everything went perfectly. I also received aid from the RFEN [the Spanish Swimming Federation]".

The player, calm, continued with her pregnancy: "On September 25, 2025, I gave birth and everything went normally. I returned to training in November, still on leave, with the physical trainer. I was calm, because I was starting the 2025-26 season pregnant and, therefore, I was calm regarding the contract," she said. And, as she argues, citing Royal Decree 1006/1985, since she had started the last season of her contract while pregnant, the bond had to be extended for one more year. "I was calm, I wanted to talk to the club, both publicly and privately, everyone knew that I wanted to continue. They were not aware, or have not been, that this law existed. I took it for granted, calmly, that I would reach Los Angeles playing with Sabadell," noted the water polo player, who has the goal of reaching the 2028 Olympic Games.

CN Sabadell breaks the silence and presents its version

In contrast, CN Sabadell argues that the decision not to extend the contract with García responds "to strictly sporting criteria". The Vallesan club, through a statement shared this Saturday, explained that García extended her contract before the 2024 Paris Games until August 31, 2025. Given the athlete's wish to become a mother, the entity states that both parties agreed on the possibility of extending the contractual bond beyond the agreed term, an option that was executed in April 2025 when the player had already communicated her pregnancy and with a duration until August 31, 2026.

The club assures that it made all the "necessary medical, technical, and logistical resources available to support her". CN Sabadell states that it informed the player on April 28 that it would not renew her so that she "would have enough time to adjust her professional future" and that, at the player's request, on May 6, in a new meeting, the decision not to extend her contract beyond August 31, 2026, was ratified to her.

The entity also highlights that García was offered the option to evaluate "paths for professional continuity within the club's structure", but that the water polo player declined. Finally, CN Sabadell notes that on September 1, the economic incentives agreed upon in the contract in the event of definitive retirement from professional practice were paid to her, even though they knew that the player would not retire.

Maica García: "I had a severe anxiety attack"

Despite this painful exit, García said Thursday, before the statement from CN Sabadell, with whom she has won more than 70 titles, including seven Champions, that it will continue to be her club. "I am from here, I grew up here, but I am leaving hurt by some people who run the club. I am unhappy with the management, I don't deserve it, neither do I nor anyone else." The water polo player found out a few days ago that the club would not renew her. "My contract ended on August 31st, and during that time I did not have any further communication from the club. Last week they called me from human resources and then I found the message from Social Security that they had deregistered me."

The water polo player, in tears, explained that the situation caused her "a great deal of pain" and "a severe anxiety disorder". The current CN Sant Andreu player, whom she thanked for the "interest, treatment, and peace of mind" she has received from her new team, also stated that she is considering suing CN Sabadell for breach of contract. García also wants her example to serve to "lead a social change": "Before, I had no role model, no example of a woman who had been a mother and had returned to the elite level".