Mar 21, 2025, 11:35 PM ET
The nationwide championship recreation of the 2025 NCAA ladies’s hockey event is ready, and it is going to have a well-recognized glance.
Wisconsin and Ohio State, the highest two seeds, will face off for the entire marbles for the 3rd consecutive 12 months. The groups have traded the nationwide championship the previous 4 seasons, with Wisconsin successful it in 2023 and 2021 and Ohio State reigning in 2024 and 2022.
Wisconsin, the No. 1 general seed, entered the event with a gaudy 35-1-2 file, with the lone loss coming by means of one target at Ohio State in mid-November. The Badgers crushed No. 4 seed Minnesota 6-2 within the nationwide semifinals, whilst the protecting champion Buckeyes complex with a 4-2 win over Cornell.
The championship recreation will probably be Saturday at Ridder Area in Minneapolis at 4 p.m. ET on ESPNU and ESPN+.
ESPN ladies’s hockey analyst Paige Capistran breaks it down with two keys and a participant to look ahead to each and every of the finalists. Additionally under is the time table for all of the event, which will probably be up to date with effects as video games are performed.
Each and every recreation of the NCAA ladies’s hockey event, together with the Frozen 4 semifinals and ultimate, will probably be streaming on ESPN+. Subscribe to observe.
Agenda
All instances ET
FROZEN FOUR
at Ridder Area, Minneapolis
Semifinals, March 21
Ohio State 4, Cornell 2
Wisconsin 6, Minnesota 2
Ultimate, March 23
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin, 4 p.m., ESPNU/ESPN+
REGIONALS
First spherical, March 13
Minnesota Duluth 6, Sacred Middle 1
St. Lawrence 4, Penn State 1
Clarkson 3, Boston College 1
Finals, March 15
No. 1 Wisconsin 4, Clarkson 1
No. 4 Minnesota 3, No. 5 Colgate 2
No. 3 Cornell 1, Minnesota Duluth 0
No. 2 Ohio State 6, St. Lawrence 1
Frozen 4 preview
Ohio State enters the Frozen 4 taking a look to protect its nationwide championship. Gil Talbot/NCAA Footage by way of Getty Pictures
How Wisconsin can win the name
Dictate the tempo: Wisconsin must dictate the tempo of play from the beginning. If the Badgers regulate the sport from puck drop, their intensity will take them to the buzzer. Whilst Minnesota held a 1-0 lead within the semifinals, the Badgers blitzed the Gophers with 3 unanswered aims and not seemed again
Capitalize at the continual play: The Badgers have the most efficient continual play share within the country and particular groups may well be the variation. Wisconsin’s Laila Edwards scored a short-handed target opposed to Minnesota and Casey O’Brien struck with groups taking part in four-on-four.
Participant to observe: 5th-year ahead Casey O’Brien has been essentially the most bad participant in faculty hockey this season, averaging 2.18 issues consistent with recreation. She had a target and two assists opposed to the Gophers.
How Ohio State can win the name
Stick with their identification: The Buckeyes glance to proceed taking part in the competitive, in-your-face hockey that has transform their trademark. Ohio State is aware of how to remove its opponent’s time and house, which will probably be a key to its luck.
Play as a five-player unit: Ohio State performs a real crew recreation and proceeding to do this is a will have to for the Buckeyes. Seven Buckeyes had issues of their semifinal win over Cornell.
Participant to observe: Sophomore ahead Jocelyn Amos leads the Buckeyes in scoring with 27 aims.
Box at a look
(Statistics getting into NCAA event)
Because the No. 1 seed, Wisconsin (35-1-2) is the crew to overcome within the NCAA ladies’s hockey event. David Stluka/Wisconsin Athletic Communications
Wisconsin (35-1-2)
PairWise score: 1
How the Badgers were given in: WCHA event champion
Numbers to grasp: Wisconsin’s most effective loss in legislation this season got here Nov. 16 at Ohio State. … The Badgers are by means of some distance the highest scoring crew within the nation (5.45 aims consistent with recreation) and feature the highest 3 scorers in Casey O’Brien (25 aims, 58 assists), Laila Edwards (30 aims, 35 assists) and Kirsten Simms (22 aims, 43 assists). … Wisconsin additionally leads the rustic in scoring protection, permitting 1.11 aims consistent with recreation. … The Badgers have received seven nationwide titles, together with in 2023 and 2021, and misplaced to Ohio State within the championship recreation in 2024.
Paige Capistran’s take: The Badgers are the cream of the crop this season within the NCAA. Co-captains O’Brien and Caroline Harvey lead the deep Wisconsin roster because the Badgers come off an exhilarating WCHA championship recreation win opposed to Minnesota. Goalie Ava McNaughton (.947 save share) used to be named one of the vital 3 finalists for the nationwide Goalie of the 12 months. Wisconsin has the most efficient continual play and penalty kill percentages within the NCAA. The Badgers may have a goal on their again — but it surely won’t subject.
Ohio State (27-7-3)
PairWise score: 2
How the Buckeyes were given in: At-large bid (WCHA)
Numbers to grasp: Ohio State has received two of the closing 3 nationwide titles, together with a 1-0 win over Wisconsin closing season. … The Buckeyes had been 14-1 over their closing 15 video games prior to falling to Minnesota within the WCHA semifinals. … The Buckeyes are moment within the nation in scoring offense (3.84 aims consistent with recreation). … Sophomore Jocelyn Amos is tied for fourth within the NCAA with 26 aims, together with 10 at the continual play, and is without doubt one of the ideally suited within the nation on faceoffs, successful 68%.
Capistran’s take: The reigning nationwide champions play competitive, in-your-face hockey. After being dissatisfied by means of Minnesota within the WHCA semifinals, the Buckeyes will have to be entering the NCAA event indignant and able to move. Repeating as nationwide champion is tricky, however the Buckeyes have the gear to perform it. Pleasure Dunne leads the Buckeyes with 54 issues (24 aims, 30 assists) and used to be named a Patty Kazmaier peak 10 finalist.
Cornell (24-4-5)
PairWise score: 3
How the Giant Purple were given in: ECAC champion
Numbers to grasp: Sophomore Annelies Bergmann has 9 shutouts, tied for essentially the most within the NCAA, and is fourth in goals-against reasonable (1.32). … Cornell has a balanced scoring assault, with 12 gamers in double digits in issues, led by means of Avi Adam (10 aims, 18 assists). … That is Cornell’s tenth NCAA look; the Giant Purple misplaced to Colgate within the quarterfinals closing 12 months.
Capistran’s take: The ECAC champions for the primary time since 2014, Cornell has a power to be reckoned with between the pipes in Bergmann, who used to be named ECAC Goalie of the 12 months, ECAC event MVP and a top-three finalist for nationwide Goalie of the 12 months. The important thing to the Giant Purple offense is their intensity — each and every line can rating and everybody contributes. Additionally, Cornell’s particular groups are peaking on the proper time.
Minnesota (28-11-1)
PairWise score: 4
How the Gophers were given in: At-large bid (WCHA)
Numbers to grasp: Minnesota has received six nationwide titles, maximum just lately in 2016. … The Gophers are moment within the nation with 148 aims, however rank twenty third in scoring protection, permitting 2.40 aims consistent with recreation…. Abbey Murphy leads the rustic with 30 aims is tied for first with seven game-winners. … The Gophers had been 1-6-1 vs. Ohio State and Wisconsin, and 26-4 vs. everybody else within the common season, then beat the Buckeyes within the WCHA semifinals.
Capistran’s take: The Golden Gophers come into the event with the joy of understanding the Frozen 4 will probably be performed in their very own barn at Ridder Area. Minnesota had an awesome appearing within the WCHA event, creating a commentary by means of frightening Ohio State 6-2 within the semis and staying even with Wisconsin till the closing 25 seconds of the name recreation. The management of Murphy, a fifth-year ahead, is vital, and trainer Brad Frost takes delight in being a difficult crew to play opposed to.
Colgate (30-8-0)
PairWise score: 5
How the Raiders were given in: At-large bid (ECAC)
Numbers to grasp: Colgate is 12-4 opposed to ranked combatants this season. … The Raiders are fourth within the nation in scoring with 3.63 aims consistent with recreation and fourth in continual play share (.286). … Hannah Murphy is 9th nationally with a .940 save share. Her 26 wins this season are essentially the most by means of a goaltender in program historical past. … That is the 5th consecutive 12 months Colgate has made the NCAA box. Remaining 12 months the Raiders misplaced to Wisconsin within the nationwide semifinals.
Capistran’s take: The mix of a tender roster and nice management has been the recipe for luck for the Raiders. Murphy, a senior, no longer most effective helps to keep the puck out of the online however is a world-class chief. Kristýna Kaltounková, a peak 10 Patty Kaz finalist, is an offensive powerhouse (26 aims, 22 assists) who too can dominate within the defensive finish. After shedding six gamers from closing 12 months’s roster, all now taking part in within the PHWL, the underclassmen had to step up this season and so they did simply that.
Minnesota Duluth (21-14-2)
PairWise score: 6
How the Bulldogs were given in: At-large bid (WCHA)
Numbers to grasp: That is Minnesota Duluth’s fifteenth NCAA look and 5th in a row. The Bulldogs have received 5 nationwide titles and made 9 journeys to the Frozen 4, maximum just lately in 2022. … Sophomore Eve Gascon is 7th within the nation in save share (.942) and UMD has allowed 3 or fewer aims in 29 of its closing 31 video games. … The Bulldogs have hung with the most efficient this season, shedding a couple of 2-1 selections to Wisconsin and two one-goal video games to Minnesota.
Capistran’s take: After being knocked out by means of Wisconsin within the WCHA semifinals, the Bulldogs come into the NCAA event at the shoulders of Gascon, the WCHA Goalie of the 12 months and a top-three finalist for nationwide Goalie of the 12 months. Gascon had 39 saves within the loss to the Badgers, her eleventh recreation with no less than 35 saves this season. Freshman Caitlin Kraemer, the WCHA Rookie of the 12 months, has made a commentary, notching 29 issues.
Penn State (31-5-1)
PairWise score: 7
How the Nittany Lions were given in: Atlantic Hockey champion
Numbers to grasp: Junior Katie DeSa has 9 shutouts, together with one within the AHA semifinals opposed to RIT, tied for essentially the most within the nation. She is 5th in goals-against reasonable (1.36). … The Nittany Lions are 6th in scoring (3.62 aims consistent with recreation). … Junior Tessa Janecke, this system’s all-time chief in issues, is within the peak 10 nationally in aims and issues consistent with recreation. She is No. 1 by means of some distance on the faceoff dot with 604 wins — no person else is at 500 — with a .702 successful share.
Capistran’s take: The Nittany Lions earned their 3rd consecutive AHA championship, atmosphere a program file for wins, and wish to transfer previous the primary spherical of NCAA event for the primary time. The Penn State roster has a stability of enjoy and full of life underclassmen. All eyes will probably be on captain Janecke, a peak 10 Patty Kaz finalist who has no less than one level in 31 of 37 video games.
Clarkson (24-12-2)
PairWise score: 8
How the Golden Knights were given in: At-large bid (ECAC)
Numbers to grasp: Clarkson has received 3 nationwide championships, the latest in 2018, and made its 6th Frozen 4 look closing season, shedding to Ohio State within the semifinals. … The Golden Knights path most effective Wisconsin in power-play share (.330). … 7th nationally with 3.47 aims consistent with recreation, Clarkson has 13 gamers in double-figures in issues, led by means of Haley Winn (14 aims, 31 assists). … The Knights had misplaced 5 in their closing six one-goal video games getting into the ECAC event. That they had a 2-1 win over Quinnipiac of their quarterfinal collection prior to falling to Cornell 2-1 in triple additional time within the semis.
Capistran’s take: Clarkson will glance to make use of the enjoy from its triple additional time heartbreaker opposed to Cornell to gasoline an NCAA event run. After making it to the Frozen 4 closing season, the Golden Knights know what it is going to take to get to Ridder Area. Co-captains Winn and Nicole Gosling lead the rate from the blue line. Winn joins Wisconsin’s Caroline Harvey as the one defenders at the peak 10 Patty Kaz record.
St. Lawrence (21-11-5)
PairWise score: 9
How the Saints were given in: At-large bid (ECAC)
Numbers to grasp: St. Lawrence is within the NCAA box for the second one consecutive season after breaking a six-year drought in 2024. … The Saints are 5-2 since an additional time loss at Colgate on Feb. 1. … Goaltender Emma Sofie-Nordstrom has greater than 800 saves (.935 share). … 5 of Taylor Lum’s 9 aims at the season were game-winners.
Capistran’s take: The Saints rallied for 2 aims within the 3rd duration however fell brief opposed to Colgate within the ECAC semifinals and are available into the event after making it to closing 12 months’s NCAA quarterfinal spherical. Senior Abby Hustler has a nostril for the online and leads the best way for the Saints with 37 issues, averaging some extent consistent with recreation.
Boston College (24-11-2)
PairWise score: 11
How the Terriers were given in: Hockey East champion
Numbers to grasp: BU received its 6th Hockey East name, however its first since 2015. The Terriers’ 24 wins are their maximum since 2020. … BU has the second-best penalty kill share within the nation (.897), trailing most effective Wisconsin (.916). … Seventeen Terriers have scored no less than one target this season, with six notching 8 or extra.
Capistran’s take: BU is aware of what it takes to win in giant moments. In all 3 in their postseason video games, the Terriers got here from in the back of to win in additional time, together with a 3-2 victory over Northeastern within the Hockey East ultimate. Junior Sydney Healey scored the successful target opposed to the Huskies, her team-high fifteenth target at the season, and used to be named the event MVP.
Sacred Middle (21-14-3)
PairWise score: 27
How the Pioneers were given in: NEWHA champion
Numbers to grasp: Sacred Middle is making its first NCAA look in 22 seasons below Tom O’Malley. The Pioneers received the NEWHA event for the second one time — additionally they received in 2018, prior to the league had an automated NCAA berth. … Sacred Middle scored seven power-play aims in its 4 NEWHA event video games. Getting into the event, it had long past seven video games and not using a PPG. … Carly Greene, who leads the rustic with a .959 save share, made 145 stops within the 4 event wins.
Capistran’s take: The Pioneers punched their NCAA price tag with a come-from-behind 4-2 win over Lengthy Island. “This implies the whole lot for this system,” O’Malley mentioned after the win. Grayson Limke scored the winner opposed to LIU and Isabella Chaput, who leads the crew with 22 issues, scored two times. Ten Pioneers scored aims within the 4 playoff video games.
