Badgers on Top!

After coming up just short in 2024, the Badgers women's hockey team will look to capture the crown once again in 2025. As the season slowly approaches, the Badgers were ranked as the #1 team in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) coaches poll for the 2024-2025 season after receiving 46 points.

The previous champion, Ohio State Buckeyes, pull in just behind them as the 2nd ranked team in the nation, while Minnesota was deemed the third ranked team with Minnesota Duluth, St. Cloud State, and Minnesota State not far behind in the rankings as well. 

The 2023-24 season was a memorable season for the Badgers despite not taking home the national crown. They won their tenth WCHA playoff title behind star players such as Kirsten Simms, Casey O'Brien, and Caroline Harvey. Along with being throned the #1 ranking, some of these Badger stars were rewarded with high recognition in the preseason honors.  

Coming off a career-high 75 points a season ago, junior forward Kirsten Simms was granted the WCHA Preseason Player of the Year. Simms is looking to follow up her WCHA Player of the Year, First-Team All-American, All-WCHA First Team, and WCHA Forward of the Year, with an even better season in 2025. 

Along with Simms, Caroline Harvey received some well-deserved recognition in the preseason honors as well. She was also named to the Preseason All-WCHA alongside Simms. Harvey posted an amazing plus/minus of +54 in the 2023-2024 season. She ranked third in this category in all of the WCHA. Caroline Harvey and Kirsten Simms are both getting the respect that they deserve prior to the 2024-25 season kicking off. 

Wisconsin is once again in good hands with Mike Johnson entering his 21st season as the head coach of the Badgers. Johnson has not only coached seven NCAA championship teams in Wisconsin, but he is also the winningest coach in NCAA collegiate women's hockey history. Having a guy like Johnson behind the bench is a pretty big boost for this Badger team. 

The Badgers are ready to get back in action and get the sour taste out of their mouth after watching Ohio State hoist the trophy just a short time ago. They won't have to wait long as the season kicks off in just over a week. Wisconsin will open the season at home against Lindenwood on September 27th. The countdown is on and let's go Badgers!