Ohio State Claims 2026 WCHA Women’s Hockey Championship, Defeating Wisconsin 2-1

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the top-seeded Wisconsin Badgers 2-1 on Saturday to win the 2026 Kwik Trip WCHA Final Faceoff championship, marking their third program title and first since 2022. The game was hosted at Lee & Penny Anderson Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Close Contest Sees Buckeyes Rally for Victory

Both Wisconsin and Ohio State entered the championship game with strong records and after securing wins in the WCHA Tournament – Wisconsin defeated Minnesota State, although Ohio State overcame Minnesota. The Badgers and Buckeyes battled through a scoreless first two periods, largely due to the outstanding performance of Wisconsin goaltender Ava McNaughton, who stopped all 36 shots faced in that span.

Lacey Eden broke the deadlock for Wisconsin at 10:02 of the third period, capitalizing on a pass from Kelly Gorbatenko. However, Ohio State responded quickly, tying the game at 1-1 at the 5:30 mark. Just two minutes later, an Ohio State shot deflected off a Wisconsin player and into the net, giving the Buckeyes a 2-1 lead.

Wisconsin attempted a comeback in the final moments, pulling their goalie for a 6-on-4 advantage, but Ohio State held on to secure the championship.

McNaughton Shines in Loss for Wisconsin

Despite the loss, Wisconsin goaltender Ava McNaughton delivered a career-high performance, making 38 saves. Her impressive showing included a stretch of three saves in just seven seconds, even managing one without her stick. This was the most saves by a Badger goaltender since Cami Kronish made 42 saves against Ohio State on February 18, 2023.

All-Tournament Team Recognition

Following the championship game, Kirsten Simms and Caroline Harvey of Wisconsin were named to the All-Tournament team. Simms recorded two goals and an assist across two games, while Harvey contributed with one goal and two assists.

Looking Ahead to the NCAA Tournament

The NCAA selection show is scheduled for Sunday, March 9, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. On ESPNU and ESPN+. Wisconsin will host two tournament games on Thursday, March 12, and will play the winner of those games on Saturday, March 14. WCHA Championship Recap