2026 NCAA Women’s Frozen Four Preview: Everything you need to know
While some things change, others remain the same in the world of women’s hockey.
This weekend, we will see two of the standard-bearers of college hockey, the Wisconsin Badgers and Ohio State Buckeyes, look to make it back to another national championship game. However, a couple of underdogs – the Northeastern Huskies and Penn State Nittany Lions – seek to spoil the party in the 2026 NCAA Women’s Frozen Four.
It has been one of the more intriguing seasons in D-I women’s hockey. While the WCHA is still the bar of excellence, teams from lower conferences have proven that a changing of the guard might be in sight.
Yet, since the NCAA began sanctioning women’s hockey in 1999, the WCHA has dominated the national tournament, winning 21 of the 24 championships. The only school outside the conference to be crowned champions is the Clarkson Golden Knights, who haven’t won since 2018.
Let’s break down the semifinal matchups set for Friday in State College, Pa.:
(5) Northeastern vs. (1) Ohio State
The Buckeyes come into the Frozen Four for a record sixth consecutive time. They entered the national tournament as the No. 1 seed thanks to a rather stunning win over Wisconsin in the WCHA Championship Game earlier this month. While the Badgers certainly have an immense amount of star power, Ohio State is littered with talent across each class.
Everyone’s focus immediately goes to Joy Dunne. The junior forward has been a massive part of the team’s success since she arrived in Columbus, and, despite taking time off to help the United States win gold at the Winter Olympics, Dunne has managed to score 48 points in 29 games. The real breakout star of the year has been freshman Hilda Svensson. The odds-on favorite to be named the NCAA Rookie of the Year, the electrifying Swede leads all first-year players in points per game (1.61) and ranks second on the Buckeyes with 50 points.
Goaltending has never had to win the team a national championship, but Hailey MacLeod has been exceptional this season. The All-WCHA Third Team selection is third in the nation in goals-against average (1.48) and fifth in wins (25).
OSU has been to the championship game in each of the past four seasons, winning the whole thing in 2022 and 2024.
The Huskies are the biggest surprise of the four teams heading to Hockey Valley. The team lost in the Hockey East final for the third year in a row, but managed to sneak into the tournament with an at-large bid. Northeastern then had the task of facing the Minnesota Golden Gophers in a raucous Ridder Arena in the regional final. However, Lisa Jönsson stood tall. The sophomore netminder made 45 saves in a 4-2 upset win to send the Huskies to the Frozen Four for the first time since 2023, which was the last time a team from the HEA made it to this point.
Jönsson will certainly need to stand on her head if her team wants any shot of stealing a spot in the national title game. The offense has been carried by Hockey East Player of the Year, and Co-Rookie of the Year, Stryker Zablocki. The freshman scored against Minnesota last Saturday, giving her 19 goals and 44 points this year. Senior Lily Shannon and Jules Constantinople are others who have to step up on Friday.
This is the third time Northeastern has made it to the Frozen Four. The program’s lone appearance in the title game came in 2021, when it lost to Wisconsin.
Ohio State is 6-1-2 all-time against Northeastern, including beating the Huskies in the semifinals three years ago.
The Buckeyes and Huskies will meet in the first game on Friday, with puck drop scheduled for 4 p.m. ET.
(3) Penn State vs. (2) Wisconsin
The defending national champions seem poised to put themselves in line to become the first true back-to-back NCAA champions since 2018. Mark Johnson’s team is filled with veterans who have been there and done that, and look to do it again. Patty Kazmaier Award favorite Caroline Harvey leads to a fourth straight Frozen Four, with aspirations of adding to the program’s record-breaking trophy case. The team had a relatively easy time getting through the Quinnipiac Bobcats in the quarterfinals last weekend, with junior Kelly Gorbatenko leading the charge with a hat trick.
The Badgers have three of the top five scorers in the nation. Super senior Lacey Eden leads the nation with 75 points in 39 games, riding a 10-game point streak into the nation. Harvey sits fourth with 62 points, leading all defenders in scoring, while sitting second in points per game (2.00). Kirsten Simms, averaging 1.93 points per game, is fifth in the NCAA with 56 points.
Almost forgot to mention that the Badgers have the ever-versatile Laila Edwards, who has bounced back and forth between defense and forward this year. If somehow anyone gets through Wisconsin’s blue line, Ava McNaughton is there. She’s tied for the nation’s lead in GAA (1.27), is fourth in the country in wins (26) and shutouts (8).
Wisconsin seeks a record ninth national championship.
Standing in their way are the hosts, who are having the best season in program history. Despite having won four straight Atlantic Hockey America (formerly College Hockey America) championships, the Nittany Lions are in the Frozen Four for the first time. Everything has clicked for Jeff Kampersal’s team this year. Despite another dominant conference schedule, Penn State managed to earn a bye to the regional final for the first time. It certainly paid dividends, as the rested Nittany Lions were able to waltz by the Connecticut Huskies last week.
While everyone stares at Patty Kaz finalist Tessa Janecke, who leads the team with 46 points, there have been a variety of players who have contributed to Penn State. Second-year forward Grace Outwater has been a breath of fresh air, scoring 40 points in 45 games. Maddy Christian and Abby Stonehouse have also been key to the team’s offense, not to mention the team’s improved D-corps with rookie Danica Maynard and AHA Defender of the Year, Kendall Butze.
Between the pipes, there’s Katie DeSa. The AHA netminder of the year is tied for second in the NCAA wins (27) and is tied with McNaughton for the best GAA (1.27). The senior is also No. 1 in the country in shutouts (12), turning away 36 shots against the Huskies last weekend.
This will be the first postseason meeting between Penn State and Wisconsin. The Badgers are 3-1 against the Nittany Lions, winning the last meeting in September 2022.
The Nittany Lions will get the primetime matchup against the Badgers on Friday, with puck drop scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
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