Wisconsin repeated as national champions, earning their third title in the last four years. For the fourth straight year, they faced off against WCHA rival Ohio State. Polls differ early on about which team is currently #1, but the consensus seems to be that they are the top two teams in the country. The WCHA preseason poll picked the Buckeyes to place first.
The first national poll had five conference teams ranked, including Wisconsin, OSU and Minnesota in the top three spots. UMD came in ninth, with Minnesota State taking the 14th spot. Coaches put Minnesota Duluth just three points behind the Gophers. I’d expect a tough fight for those top four spots all season long. Things feel a little more wide open as everyone has holes to fill and will need players to take on bigger responsibilities and rookies to get up to speed quickly.
It was unclear how the Olympics would affect the conference last season, but teams pushed through. This season, they’ll deal with missing players in November for the IIHF Women’s World Championship. Coaches aren’t happy with the interruption or losing players not just for the tournament, but also for camps early in the season.
WCHA games are available on a paid stream on BTN+. (They are currently advertising $30 off a yearly subscription using code B1G30. Last week code SEASON20 was good for 50% off, but it’s unclear how long that code is valid.)
Wisconsin repeated as national champions, earning their third title in the last four years. For the fourth straight year, they faced off against WCHA rival Ohio State. Polls differ early on about which team is currently #1, but the consensus seems to be that they are the top two teams in the country. The WCHA preseason poll picked the Buckeyes to place first.
The first national poll had five conference teams ranked, including Wisconsin, OSU and Minnesota in the top three spots. UMD came in ninth, with Minnesota State taking the 14th spot. Coaches put Minnesota Duluth just three points behind the Gophers. I’d expect a tough fight for those top four spots all season long. Things feel a little more wide open as everyone has holes to fill and will need players to take on bigger responsibilities and rookies to get up to speed quickly.
It was unclear how the Olympics would affect the conference last season, but teams pushed through. This season, they’ll deal with missing players in November for the IIHF Women’s World Championship. Coaches aren’t happy with the interruption or losing players not just for the tournament, but also for camps early in the season.
Bemidji State
The Beavers had nearly the same record as last year, so good for them being consistent, but obviously we want to see them grow and improve. There were flashes of what could be early in the season, with wins over St. Cloud State and St. Thomas, a tie with Minnesota State and a one-goal loss to Ohio State. BSU took a win over the Mavericks later in the season, but never quite fulfilled what it looked like they were on the brink of last season.
The bright spot at the end was forcing eventual national champions Wisconsin to overtime in the WCHA tournament opening round. As they often do, the Beavers ground down the speed of play and frustrated Wisconsin. It’s BSU’s calling card and something they have to be able to do more reliably and for a full 60 minutes.
Last season
6-27-3, 3-24-1 (eighth). Lost to Wisconsin in the WCHA quarterfinals.
Key Returners
Junior forward Morgan Smith, senior forward Hailey Armstrong, sophomore defender Katy Comstock
Smith and Armstong combined for 50 of the team’s 154 total points last season. Comstock led the team with 70 blocks. On a squad that allowed 4.5 goals per game, her ability to interrupt play is something we need to see from more of her teammates.
Key Departure
Forward Isa Goettl (Clarkson)
Most intriguing newcomer
Sophomore forward Ruby Rauk (transfer from Quinnipiac)
This team has to score more. There’s simply no way they can take steps forward while averaging 1.6 goals per game. Rauk wasn’t prolific at Quinnipiac, but that year of experience should help her step into a bigger role here.
Prediction
Eighth
Minnesota
It’s going to be a fascinating year for the Gophers who have a new head coach for the first time since 2007 (which was before the current rookies were born). Boom May is just the third coach in program history. He was a member of Frost’s staff, so I can’t imagine we’ll see massive changes in culture or approach. In addition to that change, they’re without Abbey Murphy for the first time since before the pandemic. She left the program as the leading goal scorer and second in points. She carried them at times and drove them the rest. Not only that, but she was the heart and soul of the group.Those two exits mean there’s going to be some transition in reestablishing the identity of this team using the people in the room. That might not happen right away.
Last Season
26-12-1, 19-8-1 (third). Lost to Northeastern in the NCAA quarterfinals.
Key Returners
Senior forward Ava Lindsay, sophomore forward Bella Fanale, junior defender Chloe Primerano
Fanale is the most likely to take a big step forward this season. She was second on the team with 20 goals (though that was still just half as many as Murphy) and has the speed, vision, hands and audacity to score some really spectacular goal. Lindsay was very good at supporting Murphy and dishing pucks. Assuming Fanale moves to top line center, those two are likely to become a problem for opponents.
Key Departures
Forwards Abby Murphy, Josefin Bouveng, defenders Nelli Laitinen, Sydney Morrow, (graduation), Coach Brad Frost
Most intriguing newcomers
Coach Boom May, forward Adrianna Milani
Like Primerano two years ago, Milani accelerated her matriculation to get to the Gophers early. She’s as good as advertised and was a dominant figure at the last U18 World Championships at just 16 years old, scoring 10 goals in six games. She’s quick, with an even faster release. She’s already skating past and around defenders with her speed and puck handling, but she’s also incredibly good at being deceptive with it, changing her shooting angle, hiding her passes and generally making everyone look silly. Last year at Etobicoke she averaged two points a game, tallying 34 goals and 34 assists in 33 games. She’s a star in the making.
Watch or listen to our PodKaz episode with Boom May here.
Prediction
Third
Minnesota Duluth
Seemingly perpetually stuck in fourth place in the WCHA, the Bulldogs both saw some roster turnover and return a very strong group that adds experienced newcomers. While the top of this conference can certainly feel inevitable for anyone not a fan of UW or OSU, I feel like this is the year with the most opportunity in a while. We know these teams can all beat up on each other and, especially early, UMD could steal some points and put themselves in a place where they can take advantage of any time the other three falter. I love that they’re scrappy and seemingly never out of a game, but on the other hand, I’d like to see them more consistently have games in hand against opponents below them in the standings.
Last Season
20-15-3, 15-10-3 (fourth). Lost to Yale in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
Key Returners
Senior goalie Ève Gascon, junior Caitlin Kraemer
The Bulldogs lost a big group of players to the transfer portal and graduation, but these two are the core of this team and as they go, the rest of the group does. Gascon has consistently been one of – if not the – best goalie over the past three seasons. She faces a lot of shots but does not get rattled. She never looks frenetic or out of place. Kraemer is part of the next generation for Canada and will absolutely represent her country for years to come. She’s smart and strong and adaptable. She’s so good at protecting the puck and creating momentum in transition.
Key Departures
Forwards Mary Kate O’Brien, Thea Johansson, defender Tova Henderson (graduation), forward Grace Sadura and defender Kamdyn Davis (both transfer to Northeastern)
Most intriguing newcomers
Finnish defender Tuuli Tallinen, Swedish forward Edit Danielsson, forward Laini Gnetz
This is a really talented and experienced incoming class. Every post I have on Danielsson from the past two years of World Championships is something like “who else but Edit Danielsson.” She has stood out as a teenager in the SDHL, but she also hasn’t gotten a ton of time. I think she’ll really benefit from consistent games and practices and linemates. She has great vision, uses her size for redirects in front of the net and memorably saved a game for Sweden in 2025 by batting a puck out of the air at the goal line.
Prediction
Fourth
Minnesota State
The Mavericks lost seven of their top nine scorers heading into last season and in response they set a program record for wins. The season was highlighted by a series win over Minnesota in November. They also advanced to the WCHA Final Faceoff for just the second time in program history and the first time since 2009 thanks to a series win over Minnesota Duluth. They ended the season nationally ranked and start this season at 14th in the polls. They’ve shown amazing resilience and perseverance all while averaging just 2.3 goals per game. They need to find more offense if they’re going to fight for the top half of the standings.
Last Season
17-19-2, 9-17-2 (fifth). Lost to Wisconsin in the WCHA semifinals.
Key Returners
Senior goalie Hailey Hansen, sophomore forward Mercury Bischoff
Bischoff had a huge rookie season, highlighted by a hat trick against Minnesota in November. She nearly doubled the goals of anyone else on the team. She uses her small size to lose defenders, get involved in the play in tight spaces and isn’t easily removed from the puck. I love her compete and she has one of the better shots in the league.
Key Departures
Forward Taylor Otremba, defender Kianna Roeske (graduation)
Most intriguing newcomer
Forward Payton Finnie
Not only does she bring some needed size to the offense, but she was a district champ in the 1500 meter in high school. She has a long stride alongside her speed and then is very good at using her size to shield the puck, buy time and find open ice.
Prediction
Fifth
Ohio State
The focus has been on the class that Wisconsin graduated, but the Buckeyes also experienced a lot of turnover on their roster, with five of last year’s grads getting selected in the PWHL Draft. They do, however, retain more of their top lines and scoring and on paper seem to be the favorite heading into the season. And I’d imagine there’s a lot of pent up frustration after having lost the national championships for the second straight year.
Last Season
36-5, 24-4 (second). Lost to Wisconsin in the National Championship
Key Returners
Sophomore forward Hilda Svensson, senior forwards Joy Dunne and Joceyln Amos
Svensson might be the most underrated and under-recognized forwards in the game right now. It’s honestly crazy that she isn’t on the conference preseason team after leading OSU in points. That’s not to say that Dunne and Amos aren’t also spectacular players, I just think it’s crazy to not give Svensson her due after she was co-Rookie of the Year and stood out on a team of elite talent.
Key Departures
Defenders Emma Peschel, Sara Swiderski, forward Brooke Disher, goalie Hailey MacLeod (graduation)
Most intriguing newcomers
Slovak forward Ema Tóthová, forward Alida Korte
Tóthová has been a part of the senior national team since she was 16. Playing with a U18 boys team at home, Tóthová is strong and steady on her skates and uses her 5’10” frame well. She has speed and is great with the puck. She’ll probably have a transition period of figuring out how much contact is allowed, but I’m looking forward to seeing her own her space on the ice. Korte has been a standout at every level, even when she was several years younger than her competition. She was captain of Canada at the 2026 U18 World Championships where she scored four goals and added five assists.
Prediction
First
St. Cloud State
This is an experienced SCSU team with two Olympians returning alongside the top two point earners and top five goal scorers. It is Mira Jalosuo’s second year at the helm and I expect to see even more of her style come through with the Huskies this season. They were at their very best in pushing Minnesota to three games in the opening round of the WCHA tournament and it would be nice to see more of that play from them this season. There were two many overtime games and one-goal losses for them to be a true contender, but Minnesota State showed last weekend that a fifth-place WCHA team can be nationally ranked. I feel like the Huskies can push Mankato for that role, but they’ve got to figure out how to close out a full game, whether it is 60 minutes or more.
Last Season
12-23-2, 7-19-2 (sixth). Lost to Minnesota in the first round of the WCHA Tournament.
Key Returners
Junior goalie Emilia Kyrkkö, senior forward Alice Sauriol, sophomore forward Maria Mikaelyan
Mikaelyan was a standout rookie, scoring 13 goals (good for second on the team) including two in SCSU’s 4-4 tie with #1 Wisconsin. She is strong and fast, with great movement with and away from the puck. I think we’ve only seen the beginning of what she’s capable of.
Key Departures
Defender Grace Wolfe, forwards Svenja Voigt, Avery Farrell (graduation)
Most intriguing newcomers
Junior defender Tristan Thompson (Northeastern), forward Jasmine Hovda
Thompson feels like a really good pick up to shore up the defense. She has been a little snake-bit in college and didn’t find her spot at Northeastern. But her prep career shows she can be an asset on offense while not giving anything up in her defensive game. St. Cloud has been so good at putting pressure on and not ceding any space. I think Thompson slots in well, particularly along the boards and keeping play away from their net.
Prediction
Sixth
St. Thomas
It’s really difficult to crack the top half of the standings in the WCHA. That can make it very difficult for teams like St. Thomas, who is looking to show improvement and feel like they’re fighting for something. In the end, does it really matter if they finish sixth or seventh? That sucks and is so bleak. The Tommies won just two series last season. To move themselves up the standings they simply have to be more consistent. Every year they push the top teams, usually earning a couple of points off them, but then do not close out games against bottom-half squads. That’s frustrating when we see what they can do against Minnesota, Ohio State and Wisconsin.
Last Season
12-23-1, 7-20-1 (seventh). Lost to Minnesota in the WCHA quarterfinals.
Key Returners
Senior forward Ella Boerger, junior goalie Dani Strom
I really liked Strom at U18s and in her first season with the Tommies where she was the starter, but Julia Minotti came in last season and took the majority of games in net. It certainly seems like Strom is the primary option this year, but time will tell. She was a game-changer as a freshman and certainly showed she could hold her own against WCHA opponents. If she can return to that form this season, it’ll be a huge boost for St. Thomas.
Key Departures
Goalie Julia Minotti (graduation), senior forward Rylee Bartz (Ohio State)
The Tommies lost their top scorer when Bartz transferred out, so they’ll be looking for more players to make an impact on offense.
Most intriguing newcomers
Junior forward Grace McCoshen (Ohio State), freshman defender Kenleigh Fischer
They basically traded forwards with the Buckeyes. McCoshen didn’t seem to really break through or be at her best in Columbus, so maybe a new view and different teammates can help unlock what made her a top recruit to begin with.
Prediction
Seventh
Wisconsin
The Badgers look to defend as two-time national champions, but will have to do so without the generationally talented class that just graduated – five of whom were selected in the first round of the PWHL Draft. The transition for Wisconsin isn’t about replacing 53% of their scoring – it’s about needing players who had roles on the third and the fourth line to quickly step up. If the Badgers are even going to sniff a three-peat, they need players like Kelly Gorbatenko, Cassie Hall, Adéla Šapovalivová and Maggie Scannell to become the game’s next recognizable names. It’s basically impossible to replace a player like KK Harvey, who most people think about offensively, but the Badgers’ defense is going to be their biggest room for growth and their biggest liability. Lucky for them, they have Olympic gold medalist Ava McNaughton in net to help them through the learning curve.
Last Season
35-4-2, 23-3-2 (First). Won the national championship.
Key Returners
Senior goalie Ava McNaughton, senior forward Kelly Gorbatenko
The graduating class was internationally known before some of them even stepped on campus. This team has been defined by those players for the past six or so years. To some extent, this is a team without a defined identity right now (which I’m aware is a somewhat comical thing to say) but I think the biggest struggles early on for this team will be to find its groove and cohesion and both McNaughton and Gorbatenko will have to guide them in that process, on and off the ice.
Key Departures
Defenders KK Harvey, Vivian Jungels, forwards Laila Edwards, Lacey Eden, Kirsten Simms, (graduation)
Most intriguing newcomers
Slovak forward Nela Lopušanová
She became a sensation at just 14 when she showed off spectacular puck-handling skills at the 2023 U18 World Championships, including scoring a lacrosse-style “Michigan” goal. She’s the only player to earn tournament MVP twice and in 2026 tied the tournament all-time scoring record burying her 22nd goal for her 33rd point in four tournaments. She came to the US to attend BK Selects and now we get to see how the Badgers can fit her flair and skills into their system.
Prediction
Second