Wisconsin finished off Ohio 4-3 in overtime in the 2025 Frozen Four, a championship game for the ages. Wisconsin trailed Ohio by 1 with minutes left in the 3rd, as they drew a penalty shot. With the fate of the season on her back, power forward Kirsten Simms netted a beautiful deke shot to send the game to overtime, then followed with the OT winner to put the season away.

NCAA Women’s Ice Hockey promises an equally exciting 2025-26 season. It’s a good time to take a look at the 5 most dominant programs. Although they missed the Championships in a 3-2 loss to Minnesota, Colgate rounds out the top 5 with a stellar 30-8-0 record.

Wisconsin Badgers

Conference: Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA)

2024-25 Record: 35-1-2

Wisconsin is the team to beat for 2025-26, after besting Ohio in a dramatic 4-3 OT win. That makes 8 gold championships in 16 appearances at the frozen four for the Badgers. Head coach Mark Johnson provides a steady hand with 22 seasons on the bench and the best winning record in all of the NCAA.

The Badger's domination comes from their deep bench, relentless forecheck, and outstanding goaltending. Wisconsin won their eighth NCAA title doing what they do best — dominating possession, minimizing mistakes, and executing under pressure.

Badgers set the pace in all three tournament games and shut down opponents’ offense with a strong defensive play and well practiced systems. It is a simple formula for success for Wisconsin, using three of the league’s top scorers on their team, Casey O’Brien, Laila Edwards, and Kirsten Simms. Both Simms and Edwards are back in the lineup for 2025-26. Still all eyes are on key returning player Caroline Harvey, a top scoring junior and a standout on defense with Team USA experience. An elite blue-liner with strong offensive contributions, Harvey led all NCAA defenders in scoring and was named 2024-25 WCHA Defender of the Year putting up 18 goals and 45 assists in 41 games. Harvey is a member of Team USA, she’s the anchor of the Badgers; back end.

Ohio State Buckeyes

Conference: WCHA

2024-25 Record: 27-7-3

The Buckeyes have appeared in 6 frozen four championships and won their first national title in 2022, repeating in 2024 to come into the 2025 frozen four as the defending champions. Ohio came up short by one goal in OT after leading the powerhouse Wisconsin Badgers for most of the game and deep into the 3rd period. They will be back in the championship mix again in 2025-26, Coach Muzerall has 7 seasons with the Buckeyes and brings a high-paced, aggressive brand of hockey and consistently producing talented players, with 6 players drafted to the PWHL in 2025, including first round pick Jenna Buglioni.

Forward Joy Dunne will be a key factor in the Buckeye’s 2025-26 campaign. Dunne played 37 games in 2024-25 and posted 24 goals and 30 assists.

Minnesota Golden Gophers

Conference: WCHA

2024-25 Record: 28-11-1

Minnesota was tied with Wisconsin with 7 NCAA titles going into the 2025 frozen four. Minnesota faced our strong runner up - Colgate - at the regional level and beat them out in a close 3-2 win. However, they were no match for the powerhouse Wisconsin in the semi-final game, dropping 6-2 in an easy rout for the ultimate champions.

Minnesota returns in 2025-26 with a strong veteran core including winger and team captain Abbey Murphy - one of the most dangerous scorers in the game. Murphy was widely expected to take a top spot in the PWHL draft - deciding instead for another season with Minnesota. The PWHL’s loss is the Gophers gain as Murphy posted a career high 65 points last season with 33 goals and 32 points.

Cornell Big Red

Conference: Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC)

2024-25 Record: 24-4-5

Head Coach: Doug Derraugh

Cornell fought their way to the Final Four for their fifth appearance and the first time since 2019, beating Minnesota Duluth in a tight 1-0 game to take their spot in the 2025 championship tournament. They put up a tough fight against Ohio State with back to back goals in the second period to bring the game to a tie. Ultimately Cornell lost 4-2 and faced Minnesota for the bronze medal round, where Cornell showed they are right in the mix, losing 2-0 with one of those goals a late empty netter.

Goaltender Annelies Bergmann stacked up a .943 save percentage in the 2024-25 season and was a key part of the 1-0 win that took Cornell to the Final Four. She is an elite netminder and a towering presence at 6’1”. Forwards Eldridge and O’Neill are both 40 point players, but Cornell will need more than good goaltending and 40 points from their top point players to be competitive in 2025-26.

Colgate Raiders

Conference: ECAC

2024-25 Record: 30-8-0

Colgate starts their 2025-26 on October 3rd against Ohio State which will give an early indication of whether they can make it back to the Frozen Four in 2025-26 after 2 previous appearances in 2018 and 2024. Head Coach Decosse joined the bench in 2015 and has been part of two seasons that ended at the Frozen Four. After their last appearance in 2024, Decosse was named Head Coach.

The Raiders have earned the attention and top 5 billing after fighting Minnesota to a 1 goal game in the 2024-25 regional final. Colgate faced the start of the 3rd period with a 3-0 deficit, but showed some fight to take Minnesota down to the wire and end the game 3-2. Colgate has shown up for three straight ECAC titles and two recent Frozen Four appearances.The Raiders are becoming a legitimate part of the conversation with Frozen Four contenders. Coming off a 30 win season, the Raiders are in the top 4 for goals and power play goals among their NCAA Rivals.

Forward Elyssa Bierderman caught the top 10 spot in points leaders in the 2024-25 season with 51 points. Biederman will join Casey Borgiel to represent Team USA at the Collegiate Series against Team Canada. Raiders Madeline Palumbo and Emma Pais will face off against them on Team Canada.