The No. 2 Wisconsin Badgers defeated No. 1 Ohio State 3-2 to win their ninth national championship, second consecutive national title and fifth NCAA title in the last seven years, once again cementing their dominance over the collegiate women’s hockey landscape.
The stage was set in Pegula Arena, where the Badgers and Buckeyes squared off in the final for the fourth year in a row.
Wisconsin took control early, as Kelly Gorbatenko deflected a shot from Adéla Šapovalivová that found its way behind Buckeye goalie Hailey MacLeod, giving the Badgers the early lead.
Following the goal, Ohio State put plenty of pressure in Wisconsin's zone. Lacey Eden had a critical block in front of the crease, but the Badgers struggled to clear their own zone, giving up several turnovers in the neutral zone.
With 12:26 left to play in the first period, Gorbatenko drove from behind the net and passed it up to Laney Potter who sniped it in, putting the Badgers up 2-0.
Minutes later, Ohio State defenseman Emma Peschel made her way to the box for cross checking. During the two minute advantage, the Buckeyes did a good job pushing Wisconsin to the top of their zone, killing the penalty.
Goaltender Ava McNaughton stops a shot during No. 1 Wisconsin women's hockey's 3-2 series clinching OT win over Bemidji State on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
Ohio State kept putting pressure on Badger goalie Ava McNaughton, who secured 12 saves in the first period alone. McNaughton went one-on-one with Joy Dunne and leaned for the glove save, securing the puck to keep the Buckeyes scoreless with 3:30 left in the first period.
McNaughton controlled the second period, continuing to make crucial saves. She went one-on-one again, this time with Kaia Malachino, and made a dazzling leg save three minutes in.
The Badgers were sloppy in zone during the second period, unable to get the clears they needed.
Just over four minutes into the period, Wisconsin gained another advantage when Kassidy Carmichael got called for interference. Within those two minutes, Eden lodged a shot which ricocheted off the post, the closest the Badgers got to scoring during the power play.
Ohio State was dominating zone time in the second period. Luckily for the Badgers, McNaughton stayed perfect, keeping the Buckeyes off the board.
With 11:28 left in the period, Mira Jungåker took down Eden, getting sent to the box for roughing. Despite boasting a .355 conversion percentage, the best in the nation, Wisconsin failed to convert on their third power play up two goals, keeping the Buckeyes within reach.
Exactly two minutes after the power play ended, Ohio State found themselves on their first power play, as Ava Murphy went to the box for interference. The Badgers were able to clear the puck fast, taking away Ohio State’s zone time. McNaughton then made a crucial stick save to stop Hilda Svensson’s shot.
Eden had another close chance at goal as she tried to sneak it in at the post, but MacLeod made the block.
Nearing the end of the period, Potter nearly got the puck behind MacLeod on a delayed penalty, but the Badgers came up empty once again. MacLeod’s composure in goal after Wisconsin’s early fury gave Ohio State momentum heading into the final period of the national championship.
With 16:29 left to play, Carmichael tipped a shot past McNaughton, narrowing the Wisconsin lead to one. That gave the Buckeyes all the momentum they needed, as a couple minutes later, Jocelyn Amos was able to find a route around McNaughton off a faceoff to tie the game.
Scoring two goals in under a three minute span shifted the momentum towards Ohio State, but the Badgers came out determined, now needing a goal to close the door on the Buckeye’s comeback hopes. Even with the increased offensive pressure from Wisconsin, MacLeod was a brick wall in the net, not allowing anything past her.
In the biggest moment of her career, Badger forward Claire Enright bounced the puck off the post just outside the reach of MacLeod, burying the game winning goal with 6:18 left to play.
McNaughton and the Wisconsin defense did their job the rest of the way, securing the Badgers’ ninth national championship and a storybook ending for the careers of seven seniors and two graduate students, including Caroline Harvey, Laila Edwards and Kirsten Simms.
