That’s what several members of the gold medal winning USA women’s national hockey will attempt to achieve a few weeks after their gold win over Canada. Selection Sunday for the 2026 women’s NCAA hockey tournament is set for today, Sunday, March 8 at 11:30 a.m. ET.
Wisconsin – which had four players on Team USA – will look to defend its 2025 national championship as the tournament is scheduled to get underway Thursday, March 12, with the regional semifinals. The Badgers have made 12 consecutive NCAA tournaments.
However, fellow Big Ten foe Ohio State is expected to be the No. 1 overall seed when the brackets are revealed on Sunday. The Badgers and Buckeyes have met in the national championship game in three straight years.
USA TODAY will provide live updates during the women’s NCAA hockey bracket reveal. Keep up here:
NCAA women’s hockey tournament 2026 schedule, scores
Regional semifinals
Thursday, March 12:
- Yale (25-9) vs. Minnesota Duluth (20-14-3), 6 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
- UConn (27-8-2) vs. Princeton (23-10), 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
- Quinnipiac (28-8-3) vs. Franklin Pierce (22-11-2), 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Regional finals
Friday, March 13
- No. 2 Wisconsin vs. Quinnipiac/Franklin Pierce, 2 p.m. (ESPN+)
- No. 3 Penn State vs. UConn/Princeton, 2 p.m. (ESPN+)
- No. 4 Minnesota vs. No. 5 Northeastern, 3 p.m. (ESPN+)
- No. 1 Ohio State vs. Yale/Minnesota-Duluth, 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
Semifinals
Friday, March 20
At University Park, Pennsylvania
- TBD vs. TBD, 4 p.m. (ESPN+)
- TBD vs. TBD, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Championship
At University Park, Pennsylvania
Sunday, March 22
- TBD vs. TBD, 4 p.m. (ESPNU, ESPN+, Fubo)
First round matchups
Here’s a look at the first round matchups on Thursday, March 12:
- Yale (25-9) vs. Minnesota Duluth (20-14-3), 6 p.m. ET
- UConn (27-8-2) vs. Princeton (23-10), 7 p.m. ET
- Quinnipiac (28-8-3) vs. Franklin Pierce (22-11-2), 8 p.m. ET
Overall seeds for women’s NCAA hockey bracket
- No. 1 Ohio State
- No. 2 Wisconsin
- No. 3 Penn State (hosts)
- No. 4 Minnesota
- No. 5 Northeastern
- Yale
- Minnesota Duluth
- UConn
- Princeton
- Quinnipiac
Wisconsin earns No. 2 seed
Defending national champion Wisconsin earns the No. 2 seed. The Badgers are the No. 1 team in scoring this season and have multiple players who played for the USA women’s national hockey team.
Ohio State earns No. 1 overall seed
Ohio State earns the No. 1 overall seed with a 34-4 record, including a recent win over Wisconsin. The Buckeyes won the 2022 and 2024 national championships. They were the No. 1 seed in 2024.
Wisconsin defeated Ohio State in 2025 NCAA Championship game
Wisconsin earned a 4-3 win over Ohio State in overtime in the 2025 NCAA Championship game at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis on March 23, 2025. It was the eight title for the Badgers. Edwards Simms scored the game-winner in overtime for Wisconsin.
What channel is women’s hockey bracket reveal?
- TV channel: ESPNU
The women’s NCAA hockey backet reveal will air live on ESPNU.
How to stream women’s hockey bracket reveal
- Streaming: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)
The women’s NCAA hockey bracket reveal will air on ESPNU, and can be streamed on the ESPN app (with a cable login) and Fubo, which offers a free trial. The official bracket will be posted to NCAA.com.
What time is women’s NCAA women’s hockey selection show?
- Start time: 11:30 a.m. ET
The selection show for the 2026 women’s Frozen Four bracket reveal will begin at 11:30 a.m. ET.
What day does women’s NCAA hockey tournament start?
- Date: Thursday, March 12
The first day of the 2026 women’s NCAA hockey tournament begins on Thursday, March 12 with the regional semifinals.
When is the women’s Frozen Four?
- Date: March 20, 22
The 2026 women’s Frozen Four will take place on March 20 (national semifinals) and March 22 (national championship game).
Where is Frozen Four 2026?
- Location: Pegula Ice Arena (University Park, Pennsylvania)
The 2026 women’s Frozen Four will take place at the Pegula Ice Arena on the campus of Penn State University in University Park, Pennsylvania.
2026 women’s NCAA hockey tournament schedule
Here’s a look at the 2026 women’s NCAA hockey tournament schedule:
- Regional semifinals: March 12-13
- Regional finals: March 14-15
- Frozen Four: March 20, 22
2025 women’s Frozen Four winner
Wisconsin is coming off winning the 2025 women’s Frozen Four. Here’s a look at the last 10 winners:
- 2025: Wisconsin
- 2024: Ohio State
- 2023: Wisconsin
- 2022: Ohio State
- 2021: Wisconsin
- 2020: N/A
- 2019: Wisconsin
- 2018: Clarkson
- 2017: Clarkson
- 2016: Minnesota
- 2015: Minnesota
