2026 NCAA Women’s Hockey Tournament Schedule and Results Overview
The 2026 NCAA women’s hockey tournament is shaping up to be a wild ride. Eleven teams will chase a spot in the Frozen Four at University Park, Pennsylvania.
This year, the tournament looks especially fierce. Teams are desperate for that championship title, and honestly, you can feel the tension already.
Below, you’ll find the schedule, some team notes, and a few players you should really keep your eye on.
Overview of the 2026 NCAA Women’s Hockey Tournament
Table of Contents
Regional play starts off with three first-round games on Thursday. The winners from those will go up against the top five seeds, who snagged first-round byes.
The top four seeds also get to host the regional finals, which is a pretty big advantage if you ask me. The Frozen Four lands on March 20 and 22, and the championship game airs on ESPNU at 4 p.m. ET on March 22.
Top Seeds and Their Paths to the Tournament
The top five seeds this year:
- Ohio State
- Wisconsin
- Penn State
- Minnesota
- Northeastern
Ohio State grabbed the overall top seed after a gritty 2-1 win over Wisconsin in the WCHA championship. Wisconsin sits at No. 2, with Penn State right behind at No. 3.
Minnesota and Northeastern round out the top five. All of these teams have had their moments this season—should be interesting to see who holds up under pressure.
Regional Play and Matchups
Regional play opens Thursday with these first-round matchups:
- Yale vs. Minnesota Duluth at 6 p.m.
- UConn vs. Princeton at 7 p.m.
- Quinnipiac vs. Franklin Pierce at 8 p.m.
Winners from these games will move on to Saturday’s regional finals, where the top seeds are waiting:
- Quinnipiac-Franklin Pierce winner at No. 2 Wisconsin at 2 p.m.
- UConn-Princeton winner at No. 3 Penn State at 2 p.m.
- No. 5 Northeastern at No. 4 Minnesota at 3 p.m.
- Yale-Minnesota Duluth winner at No. 1 Ohio State at 6 p.m.
Frozen Four and Championship Game
The Frozen Four goes down at University Park, Pennsylvania. Semifinals are March 20 at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
The championship game is set for March 22 at 4 p.m. ET, live on ESPNU. If you can’t be there, at least you can catch it on TV.
Team Insights and Key Players
Ohio State
Ohio State, sitting at the top, has been nearly unstoppable with a 19-1 record since the start of 2026. Their defense is stingy—less than two goals allowed in 15 of their last 20 games.
Hailey MacLeod has five shutouts in net, which is just ridiculous. Joy Dunne leads the offense with 26 goals in 28 games, and freshman Hilda Svensson is making waves, putting up 1.67 points per game. Not bad for a rookie.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin, the No. 2 seed, has a stacked roster, including four Olympians who won gold for Team USA. They lead the nation with 5.26 goals per game and have a lethal power play.
Caroline Harvey and Lacey Eden, both seniors, drive the offense. In net, Ava McNaughton holds things down with a 1.32 goals-against average. Honestly, they’re scary when they get rolling.
Penn State
Penn State, the No. 3 seed, makes its mark with a lockdown defense—just 1.35 goals allowed per game. Goalie Katie DeSa has put up 11 shutouts, which is wild.
Tessa Janecke leads the team with 45 points, and Grace Outwater’s chipped in 24 goals. At home, they’re nearly untouchable, going 17-1 at Pegula Ice Arena.
Minnesota
Minnesota, at No. 4, started hot but had to adjust when Abbey Murphy and Josefin Bouveng left for the Olympics. Even so, the Gophers have depth and firepower.
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Murphy is back now, and she’s averaging 2.13 points per game. That kind of production could change everything for them in the postseason.
Northeastern
Northeastern, the fifth seed, plays tough defense behind goaltender Lisa Jönsson. Their penalty kill’s been a real strength.
Stryker Zablocki and captain Lily Shannon have come up big all year. The Huskies aren’t flashy, but they get the job done.
Other Contenders
UConn
UConn, fresh off a Hockey East tournament win, makes just its second NCAA tournament appearance. Goalie Tia Chan has been lights out, posting a .950 save percentage.
The Huskies have a balanced offense and a defense that doesn’t give up much. They’re not an easy out, that’s for sure.
Quinnipiac
Quinnipiac, ECAC tournament champs, leans on goaltender Felicia Frank, who’s been fantastic this season. Kahlen Lamarche scores over a goal per game, which is no small feat.
They’ve been hot lately and could surprise people if they keep it up.
Yale
Yale made it in as an at-large ECAC pick. Carina DiAntonio leads the charge up front, and freshman defender Molly Boyle anchors the blue line.
The Bulldogs block a ton of shots and play with grit. Beating them is never simple.
Princeton
Princeton, another ECAC at-large, hangs its hat on defense, allowing just 1.41 goals per game. Captain Issy Wunder leads with 27 goals—she’s the engine for their offense.
If they’re going to make a run, it’ll be on her stick.
Minnesota Duluth
Minnesota Duluth, from the WCHA, counts on goalie Eve Gascon, who’s been a wall in net. Caitlin Kraemer leads the team in points.
They’ve played well on the road, which could give them an edge when things get tense.
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce, NEWHA tournament champs, is making its NCAA debut. Goalie Jill Hertl has a 1.63 goals-against average—pretty impressive for a first-timer at this level.
The Ravens play physical and tight defensively. They’re hoping that style will keep them in the mix.
Conclusion
The 2026 NCAA women’s hockey tournament is shaping up to be a real spectacle. Top teams and star players are all chasing that championship title.
Expect some wild matchups and a few jaw-dropping performances along the way. Fans will probably be on the edge of their seats.
Want to keep up with the schedule and results? Check out the official NCAA Women’s Hockey Tournament Schedule and Results page on ESPN.