NCAA Women's Hockey Tournament

media release: The Wisconsin women's hockey team will make its 13th-straight NCAA tournament appearance next weekend in Madison as UW earned the No. 2 seed in the 2026 NCAA Women's Ice Hockey Tournament, the NCAA announced on Sunday morning. Wisconsin will host Quinnipiac and Franklin Pierce on Thursday, March 12 at 7 p.m. CT before the winner of that game will play the Badgers on Saturday, March 14 at 1 p.m. CT.

This weekend will mark the 20th time the Badgers have made the NCAA tournament, the second most appearances in NCAA history. Wisconsin has won eight NCAA championships, the most of any team in the country. This marks the eighth time that UW will host NCAA tournament action at Labahn Arena as UW is 8-0-0 all-time in NCAA tournament contests at LaBahn Arena, outscoring opponents 36-3.  Wisconsin is 8-1-1 all-time against Quinnipiac who won the ECAC championship on Saturday. Wisconsin and Quinnipiac would meet for the first time ever in postseason play if the Bobcats were to advance. The teams played two games at LaBahn Arena during the 2021-22, with UW going 1-0-1 in those gamesFranklin Pierce is a relatively new women's hockey program, debuting in 2012-13, with the Badger and Ravens yet to ever face each other. Franklin Pierce won the NEWHA championship on Saturday, beating Saint Anselm 2-0.The 2026 NCAA Women's Frozen Four will take place at Pegula Arena in University Park, Penn. on March 20 and 22.