NCAA Women’s Hockey Power Rankings: Wisconsin starts the new season strong
We’re off and running in the 2025-26 NCAA Women’s Hockey season.
While a good chunk of teams have yet to drop the puck on the new campaign, some of the best in the country have already made an impression in the first two weeks of action. At the same time, a few teams are trying to establish themselves among the best.
Let’s take a look at this week’s Top 10 teams around the country:
1. Wisconsin
Record: 2-0-0
Last Week: 1st
The defending national champions made their presence known right from the get-go. Kicking things off with WCHA action on the road against Bemidji State, and left no doubt. The Badgers ran away with a 9-2 win last Friday night, before completing the weekend sweep with another 5-0 victory on Saturday. Sophomore Maggie Scannell potted a hat trick in the first game, before adding another on Saturday. Caroline Harvey, Lacey Eden, Cassie Hall and Kirsten Simms all walked away with four points on the weekend.
Wisconsin will be home for the first time this coming weekend, hosting Maine in a two-game set.
2. Ohio State
Record: 0-0-0
Last Week: 2nd
The Buckeyes have yet to play their first game of the season, but Nadine Muzzerall’s squad will be met with an early test on the road against Colgate. It will be a good chance for juniors Joy Dunne and Jocelyn Amos to start the new season strong, while OSU fans will get a chance to see freshman Sanni Vanhanen and Hilda Svensson in the scarlet and grey for the first time.
3. Minnesota
Record: 2-0-0
Last Week: 3rd
The Golden Gophers left no doubt when Boston College came to town this past weekend. After beating up the Eagles 7-1 on Thursday night, Abbey Murphy and company ransacked their Hockey East foe, 11-0, on Friday. Murphy piled on the points, scoring four points on Thursday before scoring a hat trick and five points on Friday. Freshman Bella Fanale made an immediate impact, scoring twice in the season opener before adding four more points on Friday.
Minnesota heads to Boston this weekend for a pair of games against a Terrier team that looked rather suspect in a tie with USPORTS side Concordia last weekend.
4. Cornell
Record: 0-0-0
Last Week: 4th
Like a lot of Ivy League schools, it will still be a few weeks before we get to see the Big Red in action. In fact, Cornell’s first game isn’t until Oct. 17 against Boston College. It allows the veteran-laden roster to come together to defend its ECAC Championship. Avi Adam and McKenna Van Gelder are two of six seniors expected to lead the offensive charge. At the same time, sophomore netminder Annelies Bergmann is primed to build off an impressive rookie campaign.
5. Minnesota Duluth
Record: 4-0-0
Last Week: 5th
The Bulldogs were one of a few teams to have played two weekends of action already this year. The team had a couple of challenging games on the road against Mercyhurst to start off the new season, but managed to pull through before sweeping fellow AHA foe Syracuse last weekend. Junior netminder Eve Gascon turned away all 46 shots she faced against the Orange, while Caitlin Kraemer continued her strong start to the year, registering points in each game so far. Senior Thea Johnasson scored three goals in the two games against Syracuse.
Duluth is off this weekend before a tough road test against Wisconsin next week.
6. Penn State
Record: 2-0-0
Last Week: 8th
Penn State found a little bit of revenge to start the new season, sweeping St. Lawrence, the team that eliminated them from last year’s NCAA Tournament. Following a 3-0 win last Thursday, Tessa Janecke and company completed the sweep with a 5-2 victory on Friday. The Nittany Lions heavily outplayed the retooled Saints, outshooting the ECAC squad each game. Janecke led the team with three points on the weekend, while sophomore Grace Outwater scored goals in each contest.
The Nittany Lions are on the road this weekend, facing Vermont twice in Burlington.
7. Colgate
Record: 0-0-0
Last Week: 6th
The Raiders will be fresh for their first slate of weekend action, as the team gets set to host Ohio State and former teammate Kaia Mlachino. It will be a true test for Colgate, as they will have a chance to gauge the strength of their team after losing key assets like Kristýna Kaltounková and starting goaltender Hannah Murphy to the PWHL. Scoring threats Elysaa Biederman, Emma Pais and Sarah Stewart hope to make immediate impacts against the Buckeyes.
8. Clarkson
Record: 1-1-0
Last Week: 7th
The Golden Knights left a little bit to be desired after this past week’s performance. Despite starting the 2025-26 season with a strong 6-3 road win over Merrimack, Clarkson took its foot off the gas on Saturday, losing to the Warriors, 5-3. Fans got a positive first look at freshman Sara Manness, who delivered four assists on the weekend, including three helpers in the loss on Saturday. Senior Lara Beecher led the Golden Knights with a goal and three points in the win on Friday.
Clarkson is at home this weekend, preparing to face a UConn team also hoping for a better outcome after its opening set of games.
9. St. Cloud State
Record: 3-1-0
Last Week: NR
While the Huskies’ dominating sweep over Lindenwood two weeks ago was nothing to boast about, their strong output this past weekend against Connecticut shed some light on what this team is capable of. On the road against a team fresh off winning a second straight Hockey East regular season title, St. Cloud State managed to grab a split against the fellow Huskies. Goaltender Emilia Kyrkko was masterful on Friday, making 35 stops in a 2-1 win. Julianne Labbe scored in that contest for SCSU, giving her four points thus far.
St. Cloud is off this week, getting a bye before beginning WCHA play against Minnesota.
10. Connecticut
Record: 1-1-0
Last Week: 10th
I was close to bumping the Huskies out of the top 10, but it felt a little too early to be throwing them for a loop after just one weekend of action. Goaltender Tia Chan was great as expected. Her performance alone nearly won both games for UConn. While the big guns were held off the scoresheet, junior Livvy Dewar stepped up with a goal and an assist in the win on Saturday.
Honorable Mention: Quinnipiac (2-0-0), St. Lawrence (0-2-0), St. Thomas (3-0-0)
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