The 2026 NC women’s hockey bracket was revealed on Sunday, as 11 teams continue their pursuit of a national championship. The bracket has plenty of familiar faces, perennial contenders and even a first timer.
As we get set for regionals to start on Thursday, let’s meet this year’s field and take a look at how they got here.
👉 2026 NC women's ice hockey championship: Bracket, schedule, scores
No. 1 Ohio State
The Buckeyes come into the tournament as the No. 1 seed, looking to avenge a loss to Wisconsin in last year’s title game. If history is any indicator, it’s a good sign for Ohio State, which has won the national championship both times it was the No. 1 overall seed (2022, 2024).
Ohio State took down Wisconsin in the WCHA championship to vault into the top spot in the NPI and take the No. 1 seed. The Buckeyes will look to ride that championship momentum into the Columbus Regional final, when they’ll face the winner of Yale/Minnesota Duluth.
Baxter‼️ | 📺
— Ohio State Women's Hockey (@OhioStateWHKY)
No. 2 Wisconsin
While the WCHA championship loss certainly stings, Wisconsin has been the most dominant team in NC women’s hockey all season. Though they lost a few key pieces from last year’s title team, the Badgers’ stars have stepped up and dominated, outscoring opponents by a 3.82 GF/GA margin (1st nationally). Four of the 10 Patty Kaz award finalists are Badgers: Lacey Eden, Laila Edwards, Kirsten Simms and Caroline Harvey.)
A fourth straight date with Ohio State in the Frozen Four feels almost inevitable, and the Badgers would definitely like a chance to avenge that WCHA championship loss. They’ll face the winner of Quinnipiac/Franklin Pierce in the Madison Regional final.
Career goal No. 98 for Simms 👀
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerWHockey)
Assists: Adéla Šapovalivová, Claire Enright
No. 3 Penn State
The Nittany Lions won their fourth consecutive AHA championship en route to their highest NCAA tournament seed in program history at No. 3. Penn State will host an NCAA regional for the first time, and if they can advance to the Frozen Four at Pegula Ice Arena, the home ice advantage could continue.
Penn State’s goaltending has been its strong suit this season. Starter Katie DeSa has been lights-out, leading the nation with 11 shutouts and 1.32 GAA (tied with Wisconsin’s Ava McNaughton for 1st). If she can continue that dominance in the tournament, Penn State could bring home its first national title on home turf.
Mya with a ROCKET to get us going 💥
— Penn State Women’s Hockey (@PennStateWHKY)
No. 4 Minnesota
The Gophers had a tough task in the WCHA tournament, dropping their semifinal matchup against Ohio State. Coming out of a stacked conference, it could be easy to overlook Minnesota’s season thanks to Wisconsin and Ohio State’s dominance, but the Gophers have been just as dangerous, hovering in the top four of the NPI since October.
One of the nation’s most dangerous offenses, the Gophers scored 4.50 goals per game, second only to Wisconsin’s 5.26. Leading that scoring is Abbey Murphy (38G, 26A, 30GP), Olympic gold medalist and author of this mind-melting assist back in January:
Abbey Murphy with one of the FILTHIEST moves you'll ever see in hockey 😱🤢
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_)
(via )
No. 5 Northeastern
Though they lost to UConn in 2OT in the Hockey East championship game, the Huskies of Northeastern got the No. 5 seed as an at-large bid. Finishing 28-8-1 on the season, Northeastern makes its first tournament appearance since 2023 and is chasing its first national championship in program history. The Huskies are on a roll heading into the tournament, winning 12 of their last 15 games, with each of the three losses coming in overtime.
Something about Rylie Jones on the power-play at UConn!
— Northeastern Women’s Hockey (@GoNUwhockey)
📺 ESPNEWS
Quinnipiac
Quinnipiac secured its first ECAC title since 2016 to earn an automatic bid to the tournament. Finishing with a 28-8-3 record, the Bobcats have one of the top defenses in the nation with an average of 1.6 goals against per game, tied for third. But their offense was elite too, led by forward Kahlen Lamarche, who led the nation in goals with 42 in 39 games and finished third overall with 61 points.
How can you not be romantic about hockey? x
— Quinnipiac Women's Ice Hockey (@QU_WIH)
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce is the lone newcomer in this year’s tournament, winning their first NEWHA tournament title since 2022 and an autobid for their first NCAA tournament appearance. The Ravens have been another solid defensive team this season, sitting just behind Northeastern with 1.8 GA per game, but they’ll have their work cut out for them when facing Quinnipiac, and possibly Wisconsin.
Yale
Yale advances to the NCAA tournament for the third time in program history, earning an at-large bid. The Bulldogs were ECAC co-regular season champions but fell to Quinnipiac in the ECAC tournament championship. The top line is powered by the elite senior duo of Jordan Ray and Carina DiAntonio, who combined for 96 points this season as the highest-scoring duo outside of Wisconsin.
THE CAPTAIN 🫡
— Yale Women’s Hockey (@YaleWHockey)
DiAntonio increases Yale's lead!
Minnesota Duluth
Minnesota Duluth secured its sixth straight NCAA tournament bid, the Bulldogs’ second-longest streak after their seven-season run from 2005-2011. UMD had the fourth-hardest schedule in the country, and the hardest of any of the NCAA tournament teams, posting an impressive 20-14-3 record overall. The Bulldogs face Yale in the first round of the Columbus Regional, with the winner advancing to face No. 1 Ohio State.
The Olympic goal scorer gets the Dogs on the board!
— UMD Women's Hockey (@UMDWHockey)
UConn
After making their first NCAA tournament appearance in 2024, the UConn Huskies have returned as an autobid, defeating Northeastern in double overtime in the Hockey East championship. Huskies goaltender Tia Chan has been their X factor this season, finishing second overall with a .955 SV%.
Tia Chan is leaving us absolutely speechless...again🫡🔥
— UConn Women's Hockey (@UConnWHOC)
Princeton
Princeton is back in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2020 after posting the second-most wins in program history this season with 23, second only to that 2020 squad. Ivy League Player of the Year and Canadian Olympian Issy Wunder leads the team with 27 goals, helping power the Tigers to an ECAC co-regular season championship.
Princeton 6, Stonehill 0 | 9:53 (2nd)
— Princeton Women's Ice Hockey (@PWIH)
Issy Wunder with a backhanded shot to keep the goals rolling! |
