2018 marks Puerto Rico’s seventh World Championship overall and fifth consecutive event, riding high on the momentum of their historic Olympic debut two years ago at Rio 2016. Their best World Championship performance to date was been 10th place, which they achieved in 2002.
Puerto Rico have made eight appearances in the FIVB World Grand Prix. Their best finish was on their debut in 2009, when they finished 10th.
Despite not having won any major title in the region, Puerto Rico have enjoyed better results in continental competitions. As well as two fourth-place finishes at the Pan-American Games (1959, 2015), Puerto Rico took the silver medal at the 2009 NORCECA Championships, came fourth in 2011 and claimed bronze at the last two editions, beating Canada on both occasions in the third-place playoffs.
Puerto Rico were also five-time runners-up and bronze medallists twice in the Central American & Caribbean Games. In this year’s competition, they beat Mexico in five sets in the third-place playoff to secure their second bronze.