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Monday, December 15, 2025

Sports

Ethan Happ
SPORTS

NCAA Tournament implications on the line in Badgers' home finale against Michigan

With its final home game Sunday, Wisconsin (10-5 Big Ten, 18-10 overall) will look to all but seal up an NCAA Tournament bid against the Michigan Wolverines (10-6, 20-9). Winning nine games out of its last 10, the Badgers have been one of the most impressive squads in the entire nation over the past month and a half, owning wins over Michigan State, Indiana, Maryland and Iowa. Getting a victory Sunday will essentially clinch an NCAA Tournament spot for UW and will serve as another résumé booster.


Wisconsin easily swept Minnesota State and now will travel to Minnesota for the WCHA Final Face-Off. 
SPORTS

Desbiens sets NCAA record, Badgers move on to WCHA Final Face-off

It was a momentous Saturday for the No. 3 Wisconsin Badgers (32-3-1), as they defeated Minnesota State (3-29-4) 6-0, earning a series sweep and booking their place at the WCHA Final Face-Off next weekend, along with junior goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens recording her 18th shutout, breaking the single season NCAA record, all in front of a sold out crowd at LaBahn Arena in Madison.


Khalil Iverson
SPORTS

Anatomy of a win: Supporting cast production leads Wisconsin past No. 8 Iowa

With a 67-59 win on the road against No. 8 Iowa Wednesday night, the Badgers all but locked up their spot in the NCAA Tournament for an 18th consecutive year. To do so, they relied on major contributions from their supporting cast and a barrage of 3-pointers to get the job done. Throughout Wisconsin’s remarkable turnaround over the last month and half, junior forward Nigel Hayes and redshirt freshman forward Ethan Happ have been the key cogs on offense most nights.


Ashley Van Zeeland
SPORTS

Kansas, UNLV prove to be too much on first day of USF tournament

Wisconsin (5-6) dropped its first two games of the USF Under Armour Showcase to Kansas (5-6 overall) 2-1, and to UNLV (8-4) 14-3 Friday in Tampa, Fla. The Badgers continued their early season trend of scoring first, jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning after an RBI double from freshman catcher Melanie Cross scored senior infielder Ashley Van Zeeland. Kansas tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning on a solo home run. UW missed two opportunities in the late innings.


Nigel Hayes
SPORTS

Cardinal Zone - 2.25

In this week's episode of the Cardinal Zone podcast, sports editors Jake Powers and Zach Rastall chatted with men's basketball beat writer Thomas Valtin-Erwin about Wisconsin's huge win over Iowa Wednesday, its chances in the Big Ten tournament and its March Madness outlook.


Dakota Whyte
SPORTS

Whyte focused on finishing season, career strong

After the Wisconsin Badgers’ (3-13 Big Ten , 7-19 overall) 90-65 blowout home loss to the Maryland Terrapins in early January, junior power forward Avyanna Young called junior Maryland center Brionna Jones, “probably the best player” she had ever defended after the Terrapins center tallied 22 points and nine rebounds on Young and UW’s frontcourt. And while both Jones and Young are juniors for their respective teams, most of the Badgers’ core is graduating and, after an emotional 71-53 loss to Northwestern on Senior Day, Wisconsin hopes to regroup and finish its season on a high note. The challenge begins Thursday at Maryland for senior guard Dakota Whyte and her teammates.


Bronson Koenig
SPORTS

Gard, Badgers move one step closer to claiming a spot in the NCAA Tournament

Ever since the sudden retirement of Bo Ryan in late-December, interim head coach Greg Gard has utilized his bench more and more and has seen noticeable results. Freshmen bench players Khalil Iverson, Charlie Thomas and redshirt sophomore Jordan Hill proved this with their combined 23 points and crucial win over No. 8 Iowa (11-4 Big Ten, 20-7 Overall) 67-59 Wednesday night in Iowa City.


Ethan Happ
SPORTS

Wisconsin searching for marquee road win against No. 8 Iowa

After narrowly avoiding what would have been a devastating home loss to Illinois this past Sunday, Wisconsin heads back out on the road for another opportunity to bolster its NCAA Tournament résumé. The Badgers (9-5 Big Ten, 17-10 overall) will take on No. 8 Iowa (11-3, 20-6) Wednesday night at 8 p.m.


Sam Cogan
SPORTS

Postseason draws near for Wisconsin

Women’s Hockey No. 3 Wisconsin (24-3-1 WCHA, 30-3-1 overall) finished the regular season by getting swept by No. 2 Minnesota (24-3-1, 29-3-1) 4-0 Friday and 4-3 in overtime Saturday. The Badgers host Minnesota State (0-25-3, 3-27-4) in the first round of the WCHA Playoffs this weekend, and head coach Mark Johnson is excited for the postseason to begin. “I think as a coach, as a player, collectively as a team, it's an exciting time of year."


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