Updated March 22, 2026, 9:54 p.m. CT
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa – The Wisconsin women’s hockey team put the debate about what program is the nation’s best to rest Sunday, March 22.
The Badgers scored a 3-2 victory over No. 1 seed Ohio State in the NCAA championship game at Pegula Ice Arena. The victory gave Wisconsin its second straight championship and its third crown in four years.
It also gave the Badgers four wins in six meetings with Ohio State this season. The Buckeyes, however, earned the No. 1 seed for the tournament and top spot in the polls, following a victory over UW in WCHA Final Faceoff.
Unherald senior Claire Enright scored the game-winner off a pass from senior Marianne Picard with 6:18 to play in the third period.
Junior goaltender Ava McNaughton was named the most outstanding player of the tournament. Caroline Harvey, Laila Edwards and Kirsten Simms also made the all tournament team.
The contest was the 17th straight between the WCHA rivals when the teams were ranked 1-2 in the nation. And with the win, UW improved to 9-7-1 i those contests.
Claire Enright breaks down her first game-winner of the season
Table of Contents
- Claire Enright breaks down her first game-winner of the season
- Wisconsin coach Mark Johnson wins ninth natty
- Fourth liner come through for Wisconsin
- Buckeye storm back with two goals early in third period
- Wisconsin is 0 for 2 on power play
- Joy Dunne can’t get one past Ava McNaugton
- Laney Potter finds back of net, UW leads, 2-0
- With Kelly Gorbatenko’s help, Wisconsin strikes first
- Your national championship game Olympic watchlist
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- A look back at last year’s classic
Wisconsin coach Mark Johnson wins ninth natty
Fourth liner come through for Wisconsin
Wisconsin has reclaimed the lead and its depth played key role in the score.
Senior Claire Enright, a member of the Badgers’ fourth line, scored off an assist from third line center Marianne Picard to give UW a 3-2 edge with 6 minute 18 seconds to play.
The goal was Enright’s ninth of the season and her first since Feb. 14.
Buckeye storm back with two goals early in third period
You just knew it wasn’t going to be easy against Ohio State.
The Buckeyes have stormed back with two goals in the span of about 2 minutes early in the third period.
Kassidy Carmichael put Ohio State on the board at the 3 minutes 32 seconds into the third period off a pass from Mira Jungaker.
Jocelyn Amos evened the scored at the 5:34 mark. Ava McNaughton got the initial save, but Amos stuck with the play and back handed the tying goal.
Wisconsin 2, Ohio State 2, 13:33 to play.
Wisconsin is 0 for 2 on power play
The Badgers missed a great chance to add to its 2-0 lead 6 minutes into the second period when Ohio State’s Kassidy Carmichael was called for interference on Cassie Hall.
The 2 minutes produced no goal, and very few opportunities. It’s still a 2-0 game, but the Buckeyes are controlling the action. About 7 minutes have passed in the second period.
Joy Dunne can’t get one past Ava McNaugton
Wisconsin leads, 2-0, after one period, but the Buckeyes almost cut that deficit in half when All-American Joy Dunne got a shot opportunity near the crease against Badgers goaltender Ava McNaughton.
In a matchup of two Olympians, McNaughton won the battle with an impressive save.
The play highlight a strong defensive showing for UW during the final half of the first period when it eliminated many of the shot opportunities that Ohio State was able to generate earlier
Laney Potter finds back of net, UW leads, 2-0
Ohio State leads the Badgers in shot attempts, but UW is making better use of its chances.
Wisconsin now has two goals in its first four shots. Junior defender Laney Potter did the honors this time at the 7:34 mark of the first period. Gorbatenko, who got UW’s first goal, got the assist as did Adela Sapovalivova.
Gorbatenko and Sapovalivova have two point each and the Badgers are officially off to a hot start.
With Kelly Gorbatenko’s help, Wisconsin strikes first
In the teams’ last meeting, Ohio State set the tone.
Not today.
Kelly Gorbatenko put the Badgers on the board 78 seconds into play off passes from Adela Sapovalivova and Lacey Eden. It was their first shot of the game.
And with 13:46 to play in the first period, UW leads, 1-0.
Your national championship game Olympic watchlist
The championship will feature 10 players who competed in the Olympics Games in Milan, Italy. Here is the run down.
Ohio State Buckeyes
16 – Joy Dunne, jr. F, Team USA: The second-team All-American is averaging a career-best 1.67 points per game. That ranks fifth in the country. Her .90 goals per game average ranks third nationally. She scored the game-winning goal in the Buckeyes’ 1-0 win over Wisconsin in 2024 championship game..
14 – Mira Jungaker, fr., D, Sweden: At the Olympics she ranked second for Sweden in ice time. She has six goals and 18 assists this season.
9 – Jenna Raunio, fr., D, Sweden: She played in seven games at the Olympics and scored four points. She made the WCHA all-Rookie Team.
8 – Hilda Svensson, fr. F, Sweden: The WCHA rookie of the year leads the Buckeyes in points (51) and assists (33) and is third with a plus/minus of 46.
21 – Sanni Vanhagen, fr., F, Finland: In addition to her Olympic experience she has played five World Championships for Finland. She entered the final with 14 goals and 15 assists. She scored in the semifinal win over Northeastern.
4 – Caroline Harvey, sr. D, Team USA: The Olympic MVP was named the winner of the Patty Kazmaier Award March 21. She ranks second in the country with 1.97 points per game and first with 1.41 assists.
10 – Laila Edwards, sr., F, Team USA: She played defense for Olympic team, but has split time between forward and defense for the Badgers. She has played forward the past couple of games and scored two game-tying goals in the semifinals.
27 – Kirsten Simms, sr., F, Team USA: Her overtime goal against Penn State Friday was her fourth game winner in the Frozen Four. Her average of 1.97 points per game is tied for second in the nation.
30 – Ava McNaughton, jr., G, Team USA: The all-WCHA second-team selection didn’t get much playing time in the Olympics. Since her return she has recorded two shutouts and posted a 1.7 goals against average.
26 – Adela Sapovalivova, fr., F, Czechia: Spent a good portion of the season as the Badgers’ No. 1 center, but has played with the second since returning from the Olympics. She ranks seventh on the team with 45 points.
A look back at last year’s classic
Last year’s national title game between the Badgers and Buckeyes symbolized the slim difference there is between winning and losing in this rivalrly. This will be the 17th straight gamesthe teams have met ranked 1-2 in the country. Seven of those games ended in one goal or a tie.
Here is a look at back at least year’s classic.
